#high warlock of alicante

[kasirose]

Happy Birthday to one Magnus “too much” Lightwood-Bane!

[lawsofchaos1]

Shadowhunter Promptlet: Obeisance

In honor of the impending AO3 Shutdown Great Panic, please have a writing promptlet from one of my oldest journals. Fun fact: this is the predecessor to my angsty fic For Every Bird There Is a Stone. :)

~

When Alec is sixteen he discovers that his parents were in the Circle.

Not trusting any story they would tell him, Alec doesn't ask his mother or his father about their past, going instead to Alicante on official business and slipping the Hall of Records on his way back to New York.

Alec reads the file he illegally copied and is unsurprised to learn they were highly ranked- Maryse was one of Valentine's highest generals- and neither his mother nor his father stopped killing Downworlders without reason until it was made a condition of their parole.

Alec wishes he was surprised.

The file on his parent’s activity estimates the number of Downworlders they murdered and tortured, but no names are listed. The werewolves and the Seelie and the vampires and the warlocks are all left almost entirely anonymous, not even a cursory effort to identify them.

Alec reads every single word in both documents and discovers that there is one name contained in both, a single name that belongs to the only known survivor of his parent's wrath under Valentine's orders: a warlock that Maryse and Robert brutally tortured before his escape. Magnus Bane.

Alec is livid when he finds out that Magnus was never so much as apologized to, not even when he was later contracted by his parents to perform magical upkeep of the NYI wards after their parole.

When Shadowhunters have wronged another, the strongest expression of regret and repentance in nephilim culture is performing obeisance before the one who was wronged. It’s an expression of complete abjection and humility, acknowledging you (or one you are responsible for) have wronged the recipient and your punishment is in their hands.

In response to what he’s learned, Alec petitions the Clave for not only the Institute in full, but also the Headship of the Lightwood family.

Disgusted as they are by not only Maryse and Robert’s past actions, but also by their cowardice in refusing to take responsibility for their actions in the Circle and their present action in effectively leaving the Headship of the NYI to their son since he was fourteen, the Clave agrees. After the ceremonial transfer, Alec goes directly to Pandemonium. 

Magnus asks sarcastically if the new Head of the NYI is there to lay down the law or to make trouble. Alec doesn’t respond. Instead, he disarms himself, laying his weapons on the ground. All of them.

“Last week, I petitioned the Clave for Headship of not only the New York Institute, but also the Lightwood family. Both were granted, making me directly responsible for the future actions of all Shadowhunters under my command, but also for all actions of the Lightwood family, future and past.” 

Alec breathes deeply. “My parents, Robert and Maryse Lightwood, were in the Circle and believe wholly in the racist, genocidal doctrine preached by Valentine Morganstern. They committed unspeakable atrocities in his name to all factions of Downworlders, but when they spoke of their crimes to the Clave when requesting leniency, they only named the species of those they murdered and tortured without remorse. Except for you, High Warlock Bane. You, they named.”

Magnus was coldly imperious when he spoke. “Did you come to request absolution on their behalf, Shadowhunter? Because you certainly won’t receive it from me. Your parents slaughtered dozens for no other reason than their blood, and I will not forgive them.”

Alec nodded. “I didn’t expect you too. However, when I accepted the Lightwood Headship, the responsibility for their crimes became mine to bear. Although I know that this will be no consolation for you or for the friends and families of those hurt by my parents, you should know that I have ordered them confined to their home in Idris for the rest of their lives. They will never again bear weapons or act as members of the body of the Clave. They will never again harm another Downworlder. You have my oath on that.”

Magnus raised a brow. “A letter would have sufficed if that’s all you have to say.”

“No.” Alec paused. “Are- are you aware of the nephilim Rite of Obeisance?” 

Magnus paused for a fraction of a second, only noticeable to Alec given his closeness to the warlock. “I’ve heard of it, yes. It’s only been performed twice in the past century, if I remember correctly?”

Alec’s lips twitched sardonically. “It’s fallen out of favor since it requires admitting fault and accepting the consequence without possibility of appeal.”

Magnus’ own smile was cruelly amused. “Yes, I can see why you nephilim might not like that thought when the Clave hands out pardons to anyone with an old enough family name.”

Alec didn’t respond for a long moment. When he did, his voice was soft, but not hesitant. “Like they did to my parents.”

“Yes,” Magnus agreed, even though Alec hadn’t made it a question.

Alec closed his eyes for a brief moment in acknowledgement, then looked up to lock gazes with Magnus. “High Warlock Bane,” Alec’s voice was pitched to carry, his intonation suddenly formal. “As Head of the Lightwood Family, Maryse and Robert Lightwood now fall under my responsibility. They have both committed grievous harm to your person and have also committed grievous harm, including murder, to an unknown number of warlocks under your protection. Their crimes have not been punished by the Clave, nor can their crimes be fully addressed by anyone other than one harmed by them.”

And before the astonished eyes of all those present in Pandemonium, Alec sank to his knees, bowing forward until his forehead touched to floor in front of Magnus’ feet.

“As the one bearing responsibility for their actions, I give myself wholly to you in the fullest expression of remorse I can offer. In recompense for the harm done to you and yours, everything I have, up to my life, I give in offering to you.”

[keepxsolxinxsolxinvictus]

Malec (aka Matthew Daddario and Harry Shum Jr.) Say Goodbye to 'Shadowhunters'...for Now

On that epic finale, fandom, and weddings...onscreen and off.

By Emily Tannenbaum

Published: May 07, 2019

[Bringing back an oldie from Cosmopolitan]

As I corral Harry Shum Jr. and Matthew Daddario around the Cosmo offices, Matt bounces on his heels, pointing to random objects—like a fancy golden coffee table and fuzzy pillows—asking me if he can bring them home with him (the answer is always "no"). Harry is much more calm, back straight and confident, happy to just laugh at his co-star.

It's jarring how their roles are almost the reverse of their characters: For the last three years on Freeform's hit series Shadowhunters (based on The Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare). Matt played Alec Lightwood, the stoic half-angel leader with a heart of gold, while Harry embodied the eccentric Warlock Magnus Bane, always moving, portaling somewhere or changing his look...not to mention throwing shit around his beautiful New York apartment.

As they say, opposites attract, and Matt and Harry captured the hearts of the entire Shadowhunters fandom as a certified power couple. Malec has certainly had their share of rom-com moments (they share their first kiss when the warlock crashed Alec's first wedding) and dramatic breakups (don't remind me about 2X18). But last night, Shadowhunters gave Malec the happy ending they deserve, complete with gorgeous wedding and happily ever after as the Inquisitor of the Clave and High Warlock of Alicante.

A wedding finale is hardly unheard of in the TV world, bordering on cliché, but for Shadowhunters there was truly no other option. The union of a strong gay man and proud bisexual has been the cornerstone of this fandom throughout its run, inspiring countless LGBTQ+ fans and landing a GLAAD Award for Outstanding Drama (not to mention sweeping the 2018 People's Choice Awards the same year as its premature cancellation). How else do you celebrate their legacy, if not by throwing a giant party and giving our boys one more showstopping kiss?

Of course, as surreal as it is to discuss the end of Shadowhunters with the ship to end all ships, it's even tougher for them to say goodbye. Here, Matt and Harry talk about the Malec wedding, balancing fandom with real life, and why Alec had to stay mortal.

The Malec Wedding

Tell me about the wedding. You’ve built this relationship for three years now, and you’ve seen how massively people have reacted—what did it feel like to give them that milestone?

Harry Shum Jr.: It had to happen. It was a great moment to bring everyone in and say, "Look at this joyous moment."

It was nice to have everybody back on-set. It really felt both, for the show itself and for us as a whole, that this was a great ending. Because it was the last thing we filmed. I'm happy that we got these two episodes so that we could do it because it would have been really unfortunate if the fans hadn't gotten that wedding. And then fans can play in their heads now, Magnus and Alec are married and doing whatever.

Matthew Daddario: You know, it's like the end of a chapter.

Harry: We're safe now.

So correct me if I'm wrong, but Alec is just a Shadowhunter still? He's not immortal.

Matt: Just a Shadowhunter? [Laughs] Yes, I am.

Some fans were really rooting for Immortal Husbands...like, intensely. How do you feel about this?

Matt: This is the thing I always have trouble understanding is that people want the immortality. And this is a topic that's been written about and discussed for thousands of years, and everyone comes to the same conclusion: the curse of immortality. It is not always the best thing in the world to live forever. In fact, that's close to this kind of a godliness that is considered almost like a living hell.

For Magnus, he's living and living in this endless loop without the repercussion of the totality of life. And if Magnus was instead mortal, would we not celebrate their wonderful life? But it's because he's immortal, we worry about what happens after the fact.

Matt: Right. You can get killed. They're immortal, and then they get the shot off the top of the castle walls, and you're like, "Whoa, that's screwed up." But at the same time, every mortal has to deal with that. [Turns to Harry] So it's not your mortality that you're upset about when you first lost your powers. You're not upset about the mortality, you're upset about the loss of your identity.

Harry: But here’s the difference: It’s not the immortality that you get shot and you can’t die.

Some fans just want Malec on an even playing field. But I find it really sad that Alec would have to live and lose like Jace and Izzy—

Matt: Right. Magnus lost people constantly, and he was kind of a shell of a person at one time. Up until meeting Alec, he's filling his life with debauchery, anything to heighten the senses. And, you know, trying to find places where he can take care of people. And he does get involved with helping vampires because they're immortal as well. There is a kind of emptiness to him in the first season.

Harry: No, for sure. And I think then there is the big switch.

Did you get emotional reading the final episode?

Harry: Everyone did at the table read. One of our producers reading off the narration, he couldn't even get through and actually walked out and someone had to take over. And then there was this silence in the end when the last words were spoken. I think that silence spoke volumes.

Has the end of Shadowhunters hit home for you yet?

Matt: I think it will hit me when I don't think about it for a week. If one week passes without me thinking about Shadowhunters, I will say, "Shit."

We think about it every day. This is a huge part of our lives. This is three years of this. And this show, it's a hit. People are talking about it, people from around the world. It's hard to deny that.

Will you still engage with Shadowhunters stans, or are you emotionally ready to move on to another world?

Matt: Look, we're done filming Shadowhunters, but the fans of the show are always welcome to ask questions and all that kind of stuff. But eventually, we're going to run out of new answers.

I'm always happy to talk to a Shadowhunters fan because they are enthusiastic, they care about what they're talking about, and many of them have built friendships off of it, so it matters to them, and therefore it matters to me.

Harry: Because you gave a part of your life.

Matt: Your job is to have an effect on people, and therefore you have a certain responsibility to engage with the people who are affected by this. You can choose not to, you could choose to go completely incognito or to ignore it, but to dismiss it is, frankly, insulting and kind of silly and maybe slightly narcissistic.

But I think that you do need to have an understanding that you're not any different or special because of this involvement with culture. And why would you want to be miserable about it? Why wouldn't you embrace it?

Matt, you kept your own wedding a secret until your one-year anniversary. Was it harder to keep the details of the finale secret or your wedding?

Matt: [Laughs] It was definitely easier to keep the wedding secret. I just told everyone no one's allowed to take photos. And people did a pretty good job with that.

Harry: Yeah, sometimes I think it's a nice...regardless of what your profession is, but particularly ours, to have something just for yourself.

Matt: Not to say that people don't deserve to know, but I think that anybody would feel like, hey, I would like this moment just to be mine for a little bit.

People can be a little bit demanding. One time this girl is walking down the street, I'm walking down the street, she's on the phone, it's the middle of the day, she's FaceTiming somebody.

She sees me, she stops me by the touching me on the shoulder and says, "Oh, whoa, wait, look! Look who's here!" and hold the phone up like this and goes, "Crazy!" and then keeps walking. And I'm like, fuck you. Like, what the fuck?! [Laughing] You don't do that to someone.

It just felt so invasive. It just feels a little bit like, you're not a human. You're the thing I see on TV. But I guess it's just excitement, whatever.

You obviously know about the #SaveShadowhunters campaign. What would you say if suddenly, some other network wanted to pick up the show?

Harry: I think it's a conversation. You know, we love playing these characters. But as time passes, things change. Like introducing a baby into your life, or whatever the next phase is.

But it's also a wonderful group of people. So, of course, instead of saying, "Absolutely not," it's definitely open for conversation for me.

Matt: Honestly, the ending is successful. And, you know, there's a danger now. What if you screw it up? [Laughs]

[onetimetwotimesthreetimess]

i needed some inspiration last night for a particular scene so i watched shadowhunters last night after quite some time and I couldn’t stop laughing because show Alec was absolutely fucking unhinged I have never met a more deranged man. This man asked his boyfriend to move in with him not three days after he got rejected for the same thing mans had no chill he wanted magnus’s babies so fuxking bad from day 1 and he’s so unintentionally funny with his “can’t believe I stopped the ley lines destroying the system all on my own with the power of my biceps and with no help from my powerful warlock boyfriend” and I will never get over the fact that the first thing both book and show alec did after becoming Consul/Inquisitor was to 1. Change the laws so he could marry magnus bane/ 2. create an entirely new high warlock position for his husband in alicante because he knew how magnus was sad for a hot minute when he was removed as HW of New York. i watched show malec after a long time (idk why that is?? show malec slapped so hard lmao) but man was show Alec absolutely insane and my favorite babygirl and that’s why he continues to be an icon

[la-muerta]

When your husband is the High Warlock of Alicante, you can leave the wintry cold behind and go have a picnic in the sunshine anytime 🥰🌞💕🥂

Collaborative project with @cheezieball-blog (@cheezietoo on twitter), who graciously let me colour her adorable Malec lineart!

[malec-ao3feed]

Yes Mr. Inquisitor

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/jAt4qwc by Queer_and_trashy Magnus’ hand cupped gently against the side of Alec’s face. “Even if the ideal situation doesn’t come to pass, just making those demands in that space will mean something.” “I agree,” Alec said, biting back a smile. “But the position is already filled.” “What? By who?” Magnus became immediately defensive on his behalf like a cat puffing up their fur. Alec couldn’t help the small laugh that fell from his lips. “They apparently also have a choice for a new position as well. Something about a high warlock?” Aka Alec accepts the position of Inquisitor with some conditions and celebrates the new title with his pet high warlock. Words: 9845, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Shadowhunters (TV), The Shadowhunter Chronicles - All Media Types Rating: Explicit Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Categories: M/M Characters: Magnus Bane, Alec Lightwood, Isabelle Lightwood, Jace Wayland, Jia Penhallow Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: Inquisitor Alec Lightwood, High Warlock of Alicante Magnus Bane, BDSM, Dom/sub, Dom Alec Lightwood, Sub Magnus Bane, Office Sex, Cock Warming, Impact Play, Caning, established kink dynamic, Anal Sex, Pet Play, more in energy than explicit roleplay, Plot What Plot/Porn Without Plot, except for a little bit of politics and relationships in the first half read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/jAt4qwc

[lurafita]

The "high" Warlock

What if it's called "high warlock" because assuming the leader position means that the warlock connects with the lay lines of the place they are responsible for, and this first connect leaves them literally high for a while.

When Magnus later becomes high warlock of Alicante, Alec has his hands full taking care of his epically stoned husband, because the ley lines in Alicante are more powerful than anywhere else in the world.

[faejilly]

hello!! absolutely adore your writing <3 no worries at all it not, but may i request an alternate pre-series meeting in canon / canon-adjacent where valentine is actually dead? always very curious about how malec’s relationship might change if they met and started dating Not in the middle of a really intense war lmao, so i thought maybe their first meeting would be a good starting point? but don’t sweat it if this doesn’t strike the fic muse <33

asdfjklgh thank you! so this MORE THAN struck the fic muse, but I got distracted by a tangent as to how it all Got Very Different™️and have not actually introduced Malec to each other as of yet but if you'd like some Magnus going what the fuck? at the Clave actually being competent this will hopefully be entertaining. AND ISTG I will get to Malec meeting! Eventually?

A familiar flare lit up his apothecary, and Magnus reached out to catch the fire message. The flames sparked brighter, and he blinked away the after-images as something heavier than he'd expected solidified between his fingers.

A single sheet of paper, cleverly folded up to resemble an envelope and keep the message inside; there was the unfortunately familiar black curl of a rune along the edges.

Magnus grimaced.

It was probably some horrifying form letter designed to intimidate him into something that was not remotely his problem, but he was going to have to clean up regardless. Shadowhunters didn't request things, they ordered, and brow-beat, and the only reason they got away with it was because they treated everyone equally terribly, including themselves, and to be quite fair to their militaristic grand-standing, the world was continuing to not be overrun by demons, so it seemed to be working for them.

Even Valentine hadn’t made much of a dent in their self-righteous arrogance. The Lightwoods hadn’t lost possession of the Institute they’d killed to get, buying clemency with their children, from what he’d heard, which was even worse than typical nephilim parenting. Despicable, ev–

He blinked. That wasn't the New York Institute's watermark, it was the Inquisitor's.

He tilted it to let the light from the windows spill across it, but that was very clearly the silhouette of a Demon Tower behind two crossed blades, not the broken stone the Clave had required the New York Institute to use after the Uprising to signify its failure to uphold their so-called sacred duties.

He huffed out a breath in not quite a sigh, and felt a frown starting to form between his brows. It was easier to deal with Inquisitor Herondale and her people than the Lightwoods. (She at least hated Valentine as much as the downworld.) But that didn't mean a formal letter was likely to be a good thing. Whatever had happened in the aftermath of Valentine's attempted coup had been kept very quiet behind Alicante's borders, and everything the downworld got to see had returned to business-as-usual.

He rolled his eyes, because nephilim, but ignoring one of their summons made them even more petty and obnoxious, so he turned it over to unfold.

And stopped again upon seeing how it was addressed.

High Warlock of Brooklyn Senior Scholar of the Spiral Labyrinth Ambassador of the Accords The Right Hon. Magnus Bane

They'd used a fountain pen and written in proper uncial calligraphy and if he hadn't known that the magic for fire messages didn't work on animal skin, he might have thought they'd used actual parchment rather than what must instead be a very high quality paper stock.

"Huh." He peered down at the letters, trying to think if he'd ever seen a nephilim address a notice to a downworlder in the same formal terms they used amongst themselves. And then almost dropped the whole damn thing when he realized that the initials scribbled across the fold in lieu of the wax seal that would have prevented the fire message from activating properly were IWH. And in the exact same calligraphy as the address.

"What the fuck." He spoke aloud, louder than he'd expected or intended, almost loud enough to startle himself even as he flung the whole thing out and away.

He watched as it fell to the floor, and he stared at it.

It still just looked like paper.

It had to just be paper, the rune to send it wouldn't have worked otherwise, but High Inquisitor Imogen Whitelaw Herondale had written on that with her own hand and sent it to Magnus as if he was an equal and what in all seven hells was that about?

He stepped sideways, unable to convince himself to look away from those initials even as his fingers scrabbled across his desk in search of normal paper and pen to send a message of his own.

Ragnor, could you please indulge me with your thoughts for a moment?

He'd half expected he wouldn't get an answer, not even another fire message or a call on the phone in the other room; Ragnor had been even more of a hermit than usual since the Uprising. (Not that Magnus could fault him for that. If he wasn't a High Warlock he probably would have disappeared into the countryside somewhere as well.) But instead he felt the familiar press of Ragnor's magic against his wards as a portal opened almost immediately in the foyer.

"Apothecary!" Magnus called out, still staring at the paper on his floor.

He heard footsteps, felt Ragnor's magic approach, could even see the shadow stretching towards him when Ragnor paused in the doorway. "Ah, you got it too?"

That finally made Magnus blink, the hold of the strange message broken. He turned his head and lifted his eyebrows.

Ragnor shook his head. "I think you need to experience it for yourself."

Magnus snorted, but stepped forward, picked up the paper, and this time he unfolded it and began to read.

And then read it again.

And again, even as Ragnor came to stand beside him.

"What the fuck," he repeated.

Ragnor grunted, apparently not having any more idea than he did.

"Do you think it's real?" Magnus asked, and he could hear the almost plaintive whisper of something he couldn't pretend wasn't hope in his own voice.

"Only one way to find out." Ragnor's voice was dry, but gentle. There was hope hiding in his voice, too. "Shall we?"

*

It seemed real the next evening.

They arrived in front of the New York Institute to find Theo and Gretel from the closest Werewolf pack already there. A pair of fae nobles Magnus didn't recognize, both in full Court regalia, one Seelie and the other Unseelie, arrived a few minutes later, just after the last lingering blush of daylight faded, escorting Raphael and Lily who were here for their Clan.

Magnus almost asked if any of them knew what the fuck was really going on, but did in fact retain his composure and instead just lifted his chin to wait. (He had to admit, even if just to himself, that he was glad Camille was off somewhere being Camille rather than here in New York to represent the vampires and make this whole situation even more uncomfortable.)

They didn't wait long.

The double doors to the Cathedral swung wide open, rather than the main entrance that led to the central hub of the Institute and the Heads' Office. The High Inquisitor herself stepped out, and fucking bowed to them, and Magnus made a small noise of disbelief that he would deny to his dying day if anyone ever asked. (He didn't think anyone would, however, as he had not been the only one. In fact he was pretty sure the only one who hadn't betrayed their surprise was Ragnor, though the fae had managed no more than a slight shift in posture or positioning.)

"We have set up precautions so all may enter." Herondale paused, and tilted her chin towards Ragnor and Magnus. "I understand if you wish to verify before anyone tests my word?"

Magnus stared at her. She'd just admitted that they had no reason to believe her. She'd admitted it out loud and didn't even sound upset about it.

Ragnor bumped his elbow, and Magnus tucked it all back behind his High Warlock mask. He nodded back as formally as he could manage before lifting his arms and letting his magical senses expand.

There was something inside that was still warded enough to prevent him from being able to tell what it was, but its power was passive rather than active, so it wouldn't be able to be turned against them without warning.

There was also an echo of banked power that felt suspiciously like Silent Brother -and- Iron Sister -and- Soul Sword which was a thing the letter had mentioned but he hadn't been sure he'd believed; (especially that it was only there for Herondale to swear on rather than to be used against the rest of them, somehow). Beyond either of those, it was also very clear the resonance from the Angelic Core had been banked, somehow, the blessing to make the ground hallowed had been covered and muted, and it was entirely safe for any downworlder to enter, regardless of age or power level or wards.

He couldn't quite resist a glance at Ragnor, whose expression indicated he was right there with Magnus and his inexplicable conclusion. Ragnor managed to imply a shrug with the shift of his eyes, and Magnus turned to their fellow downworlders. "She's correct, the building is completely safe for us to enter."

He refrained from suggesting that the nephilim in the building were trustworthy, as they'd all already decided to take that risk when they'd shown up in response to Herondale's summons.

He supposed the fae might not have decided so much as been ordered, but regardless. They were already here. And it was time to see if the rest of it was true.

The rows of pews were nearly full of nephilim in mourning white, more than Magnus suspected usually served in New York, all of them eerily silent, heads politely bowed just enough to lessen the weight of their attention on the entering downworlders.

Behind the chancel, in the raised choir stands, there were additionally about a half-a-dozen black-clad guards, an Iron Sister in gleaming white, a Silent Brother in his bone-dull robe, and the Soul Sword itself, the ruby glinting in its hilt.

To the left of the altar were half-a-dozen nephilim children roughly equivalent to elementary school aged Mundanes, only one of whom had the steady glow to Magnus' senses of a runed Shadowhunter rather than the flickering eldritch taste of angelic potential that the young ones carried before they received their first Mark.

Except for one small red-head just under ten who was familiarly blank, and he realized that the Inquisitor must have found the Fairchilds because that was young Clarissa, still under the power of the wards her mother had paid him to build for her.

He hoped Dorothea was safe, wherever she was. He hadn't felt her magic break, so at least he was reasonably sure she was still alive.

He swallowed, let his gaze skip over the draped stand centered on the aisle in front of him, and focused instead on the dozen adults opposite the children, each with a visibly red Circle on their neck, their shoulders all stiff in the distinctive posture of prisoners whose hands were chained behind their backs. Some of them he didn't know at all, a few were only vaguely familiar, but then there was Jocelyn herself, and Starkweather, and both Lightwoods, and someone who looked eerily similar to the Consul himself.

There was one man beside the rest with his hands cuffed in front of him instead of behind, his Circle rune dark and quiescent rather than inflamed, a Chinese Shadowhunter standing next to him, close enough the white of her sleeves brushed against his arm, with neither a Circle rune nor any restraints on her at all.

"Thank you for coming on such short notice." Herondale spoke up after giving them all a moment to look around, and without another word she turned her back to eight potentially hostile downworlders and knelt before the Sword.

The Silent Brother lifted his hands, the pressure of his attention clear even when he didn't say anything. The Iron Sister lifted the sword, balancing it gracefully in such a way that it tilted gently down from her grip until the tip almost rested on Herondale's forehead. The ruby glowed, and the flare of angelic power was strong enough to sizzle against Magnus' skin. Carried along with the magic was the Silent Brother's intent, and the Inquisitor's voice filled the Cathedral, both inside and outside his head, resonating in his bones and his blood.

"The traitor Valentine Morgenstern has been killed, and the only surviving nephilim members of his Circle are here to face their final sentencing, as witnessed by the Downworld Leaders of New York City, in this the soul of the New York Institute, a place most wounded by his actions. This truth I swear, upon the Angel Raziel and His Mortal and Immortal Instruments, as High Inquisitor of Alicante and Idris, Commander of the Gard, Elder of the Clave and Council, Head of the Herondale Family, Blooded Shadowhunter and Mother of Soldiers, Lady Imogen Whitelaw Herondale."

Magnus swallowed, ignoring the burn in his eyes and the faint taste of copper down his throat.

The Soul Sword compelled the truth from the nephilim, but all it required when they swore upon it was that they believed in whatever truth they spoke.

This ritual was something else entirely. The balance of the magic he'd just witnessed, a trio of complementary powers braided together, Brother and Sister and relic, knowledge and skill and power, secrets and vows and faith, with each separate piece enhancing the other two, meant that Herondale couldn't have sworn on something that was untrue at any level, even if she'd personally believed it all the way down to her bones.

"Well, fuck me."

Magnus snorted, barely stopping himself from giggling (possibly slightly hysterically) at Ragnor's sotto voce reaction. Not that he'd been thinking anything any more eloquent.

It was real.

*

The rest of the meeting was less dramatic. Even whipping the cover off the stand in the middle to reveal Valentine’s head encased in silver-edged glass had been less shocking. (Well, to the warlocks and fae, at least. Vampires and werewolves weren’t quite as able to feel the way the ritual had invoked truth magic against the nephilim, so being able to examine (and presumably scent) proof that Valentine was dead was a bigger deal for them.)

The former Circle members were all going to be deruned, exiled, and imprisoned, each alone at a different Institute so they couldn’t work together and their status could be verified by downworlders whenever they wished, unlike traditional prisoners kept in Alicante at the Gard.

There were two exceptions. One: Lucian Graymark, now Luke Garroway, was a werewolf, and the nephilim abdicated their authority and explicitly left his punishment up to the downworld itself. Second: the man who’d been standing slightly separate from the other prisoners, Patrick Penhallow, who had avoided participating in any of the Circle’s true atrocities and was the one who had discovered Valentine was alive and hiding with the presumed dead Herondale heir and promptly informed Imogen personally. He was still to be exiled from the Clave and Council for punishment, but would be allowed to continue as a Shadowhunter and would, in fact, be staying in New York City where he would be an official liaison to the downworld.

But only if the downworld representatives summoned agreed.

Magnus wasn’t complete sure which part of that was supposed to be mercy and which part was punishment, but he was surprised enough at the validation offered to himself and the other representatives that he did, in fact, agree to it along with everyone else.

That wasn’t even the last surprise though.

No, it got better.

Worse?

Magnus wasn’t sure anymore. He was going to tell Catarina about this and she wasn’t going to believe a single damn word he said.

Instead of re-opening their Academy in Alicante, the nephilim were going to train their children at the Institutes, and would include exposure to and lessons from former mundanes and current downworlders. The children there in the chapel for this meeting were the orphans of the Circle, whose parents were all formally being removed from their bloodlines, and this new generation would be raised in New York City.

Imogen Herondale herself was going to be acting as Head of the New York Institute with Jia Penhallow (Patrick’s wife, who had not ever been part of the Circle) as her Co-Head until such time as as the downworld agreed that the next generation of nephilim seemed sufficiently un-Circle-like and one of them could be appointed.

(That wasn’t, of course, how she’d said it, but it was clear enough.)

Magnus was mostly in shock and just nodding along at that point.

When she’d confirmed that the downworld was reasonably accepting of all of that, and had even told them how to contact Patrick directly with any questions or concerns, she slipped into something that looked like parade rest, and without a bit of warning that Magnus could recognize, the entire chapel-full of nephilim all stood at the same time, chanted “ante faciem Angelus” all together, and then they bowed, too. All of them, each with a hand over their heart, respect and responsibility and something that felt like an apology ringing through the air. From nephilim. To downworlders.

“Fiat justicia!” Herondale called out in response, and the nephilim filed back into their institute, and the black-clad guards very politely escorted the downworlders the other direction and shut the big fancy doors behind them, and Magnus was blinking at Ragnor in the street outside the Institute again.

“What the actual fuck.” Gretel broke the silence first.

Magnus started laughing, and nodded in agreement. That absolutely covered it.

The Clave had said they’d dealt with the Circle, and requested the downworld’s input, and claimed that things were going to be different this time, and it was all really, truly, completely, real.

[alexanderlightweight]

I don't think I even have an ask but Lawd that older Alec raised by his strict Trueblood grandparents is just gold. That ending where he smirks at Jia and sends Izzy and Jace back to Alicante? *chefs kisses*

My asexual ass is so so attracted to a competent confident Alec who knows his boundaries and had the freedom to demand and enforce them. Just ... I adore him putting everyone in their place. How does he meet Magnus in this verse? Do we know how the differe t power balance at the beginning changes their dynamic, if at all?

I am so happy with everything in this verse but will always always appreciate more when others can send in prompts you like for it.

oh i'm glad it's being enjoyed! have a piece because this will kind of explain some of the power dynamics between them.

and well, i think it's pretty well known how much i love competent!malec and individually impressing each other with competence, not just their teamwork. and this alec was raised differently, he's much more confident than canon!alec.

<3 lumine

-

Alec takes a breath and then, before Magnus twirls his fingers and excuses himself, steps around his desk.

Their meeting is done, they are no longer meeting solely as leaders to different factions of the same world.

“Magnus—” Alec says, because he hasn’t let himself get this far to be held back by his fears. “I can’t go out with you publicly, not anywhere right now. It wouldn’t be safe, for either of us.” Because Alec knows the clave will try and use this as a reason to attack Magnus.

He’s the High Warlock of Brooklyn and on the Council of Elders. He’s the inventor of the portal and the Inventor.

Magnus is as feared as he’s revered and renown and Alec can’t afford to let either of them paint a target on each other’s back and Alec isn’t prepared to protect Magnus from Alec’s enemies, or himself from Magnus’.

“I— you can say no. You deserve someone who can stand proudly by your side—” Alec doesn’t see the wide-eyed, shocked way that Magnus is staring at him. He’s nervous but he knows what he wants and it’s only because he wants this so badly that his words try to slither away.

“But I want that, someday. So, if you’re okay with it, we could start with drinks? Somewhere just the two of us.”

“And where would we find the right level of privacy, Alexander?” Magnus says and he steps over to Alec, gliding like an arrow through a cloud and Alec bites back a sigh of want.

“Anywhere you think is safe. I trust you Magnus,” Alec tells him, because he does. Alec would never have asked Magnus back to redo the wards entirely if he didn’t trust him, no matter how beautiful of a man he is.

Alec trusts his instincts and his instincts purr when he’s near Magnus. Magnus’ presence and his magic and even now, the wards of the Institute, are soothing and Alec adores them.

“It’s the clave I don’t trust. I have no real family backing anymore, Magnus. I’m a valuable asset to the clave but I’ve never dabbled in politics. I would have no leverage in the face of their bigotry, and I’ve seen what the clave does to people it doesn’t like.”

—

Magnus waits a single breath and then he steps up to Alexander and reaches out, tilting Alexander’s face up from where Alexander is studying his hands with a determined furrow.

At first, Alexander’s gaze met Magnus’ own, but it grew shuttered and shadowed as Alexander remembered the evils of the clave. It’s what assures Magnus that this isn’t because of shame — Magnus has had quite enough of being a dirty little secret — and is entirely about survival.

Alexander is wise and methodical in a way that tells Magnus he must have plans and Magnus is willing to extend a little trust, to make this a mutual admittance.

“I’ve lived it.” Magnus tells him quietly, “so never doubt that I understand the power and hatred the clave can wield. If that is your reasoning than I can accept it, I can even agree with it. You wouldn’t be safe here, not yet.”

Alexander seems pleased and a little surprised that Magnus is being mutually considerate, and Magnus mentally tuts as he leans forward and presses a kiss to the corner of Alexander’s mouth.

This will be — by Alexander’s admittance — his first relationship due to Alexander growing up with what he calls ‘higher standards than what my mother had’.

Which is a rather low bar until Magnus realized that Alexander has denied every single person he’s ever met, until meeting Magnus. Which means that Alexander must feel the same instinctual, almost primal interest that Magnus does.

So, in the interest of respect, Magnus is going to be as gentlemanly and courteous as he can bear, for Alexander’s sake.

That is the plan, at least until Alexander whines against his mouth.

There’s a displeased grumble when Magnus starts to pull away and then strong hands are wrapping around Magnus. An arm around his waist and a hand on the back of his neck.  Alexander is inexperienced but hungry and eager and determined.

He licks into Magnus’ mouth, their teeth clacking together until Magnus croons and gentles him, tugging on Alexander’s hair. He sucks on his boy’s tongue until he has Alexander’s fingers leaving bruises on his skin.  Magnus groans into the kiss and drags his teeth down Alexander’s tongue, leaving a sting behind that has Alexander grinding up against him.

“Magnus—” Alexander whispers against his lips, “unless you glamour yourself, you’ll need to portal out of my office, and I don’t think we should give that part away just yet.”

Magnus freezes, because he didn’t realize Alexander knew he’d left a backdoor just for Magnus. Alexander smirks at him, kiss bruised lips pulled into a smug grin as he lets Magnus pull himself away. 

Magnus knows he must look much the same kind of debauched and he sighs, snapping away the signs with his fingers before he gives Alexander a leer.

“When you said you’d never been interested in anyone before, I didn’t expect this, Alexander.” He raises an eyebrow teasingly and gets a chuckle in return.

“I said you’ll be my first, I didn’t say it was because of a lack of offers.” Alexander smirks at him and Magnus wants to lick it off his face. “I’ve had enough past suitors hoping to become my wife that I’m not lacking in my self-worth, Magnus.”

“Did you?” Magnus asks something writhing inside of him and he steps forward, giving Alexander a parting kiss and biting his lip in farewell. “Well, perhaps darling I’ll just have to give you even better reasons to be confident. I’m sure I can find ways that outmatch those of failed suitors?”

Alexander nods, delight in crinkling of his eyes as smiles, basking in Magnus’ promise and attention.

[justawanderer]

Questions I have about Shadowhunters (specifically the Freeform show) after rewatching for the Billionth time:

1. Who the fuck is reading all of these reports that the hunters are continuously sending to Alicante? I wanna know a day in the life of the poor schmucky analyst that has to wade through all of them from all of the varying institutes.

2. Does literally Anyone other than Alec and Jace understand the parabatai bond? They both attempt to explain an issue they are having with it to other people throughout the seasons and are brushed off or ignored Everytime.

3. Also people obviously do not understand parabatai because I cannot fathom being the HotI (Aldertree) and having my best fighter (Jace) defect to a genocidal maniac’s side (that’s what the Clave thought happened) and Not placing his Parabatai in a holding cell. I’m so sorry but if I was Head the very first thing I would have done after heading about Jace would have been to lock up Alec. (Also the fact that Alec can bark out orders to the Ops floor and have every single person snap to attention and listen while Lydia and Aldertee can’t do that is hilarious)

4. Why is everyone(in universe) acting like 2.5 weeks of Knowing about the Shadow World and living at the institute is enough time for Clary to be proficiently trained? Her training sequence with Izzy had an audience that was low key making fun of her? I dare anyone reading this to train in quarter staff for an hour or two a day for 10 days and face a black belt and let me know how that goes. Like Izzy and Jace are the ones who failed clary, she understandably has a ton going on.

5. Why is Magnus one minute super understanding of everyone and powerful and savvy as High Warlock and the next minute arguing with Alec about Alec not paying enough attention to him? The argument in season 2x01 is ridiculous. Alec is rightly upset about Jace being missing tries to articulate to multiple people but especially Magnus, how Jace being missing is making him feel as a parabatai, and Magnus’ response is “I know I can be too much?” What the absolute fuck were the writers doing reducing Magnus to a petulant, jealous, jilted lover here? I’m not excusing rude behavior on either Alec or Clary’s part, but no one is reacting to either of them in a way that seems like they understand what’s happening.

6. What fucking time is it? What day is it? When do these events take place? Oh my fucking god the timeline on this show drives me bananas.

Yet I’m still continuing to watch it. And hopefully fic some of these things in my fics.

Again, this is a show based rant.

[petratherrock]

Watched the latest grey's episode and

i haven't since April and Arizona left which was ages ago, and some other things in the show had started annoying me to no end, then after i stopped watching, the news of Justin leaving--Alex leaving Jo for Izzie????that just affirmed it

but

watching the latest is really nostalgic. None of the characters in here have good luck. All the bad stuff that could happen to a person will happen to people who work at this hospital. People just wanna talk about their feelings. Everyone is either horny or involved in an accident almost every other week

and I remember seeing this review by this real life doctor who basically asked, what did they put in the ventilation system for them to be horny all the time lmao

Now we've got the High Warlock of Alicante and Queen of Scots on the show 😆

[lawsofchaos1]

Shadowhunters Promptlet: Jace & Lydia

Tl;dr, but a side comment in a group chat ended up accidentally prompting an idea for how to make a realistic Jace/Lydia. Please see the following for my semi-attempt: Jace/Lydia: Delightfully Political Chaos Imagine, after Clary's memory loss and Jace's acceptance of her not coming back, he finds himself slightly at odds. His parabatai is bossing it at being Inquisitor, his sister is doing the same after taking over the NYI, and Magnus has made his role as High Warlock of Alicante absolutely indispensable.

Jace is mostly content as Head of the Inquisitorial Guard, but after that first harrowing year where Jace and Alec (and therefore Magnus) had lived on a constant knife-edge of vigilance against the last, desperate waves of Valentine's loyalists, his skills typically lay fallow these days. The sharpest he needs to be is in the training hall and Jace itches for the electric-hum thrill of a real fight.

Alec isn't some Idris-soft politician, barely able to swing a blade without injuring himself. Outside of a few rare periods of high threat, Alec doesn't need Jace to stand between him and danger. Alec and his husband are perfectly capable of making their foes rue the day they decided to go up against the Inquisitor and the High Warlock.

However, Jace… Jace needs to be needed.

Enter, from stage left, LYDIA BRANWELL.

Lydia is a frequent guest at Magnus and Alec's home, usually with Jace present as well. Lydia will never love anyone other than John and Jace will never love anyone other than Clary, but Jace and Lydia become fast friends as they bond over their shared loss (and several bottles of unfortunately expensive tequila). Lydia has made political waves after the war, rising rapidly through the ranks on the way to her end goal of Consul. While Alec could easily go after the role himself, he has no desire to handle the endless meetings and social politics of the position so long as someone he trusts holds it. He much prefers the role's complement - the enforcement required of the Inquisitor. Alec is beyond pleased at Lydia's desire for Consul and they've already schemed at how he can support her bid.

However, no matter the advancements since the war, Alicante is traditional. While Lydia's gender makes no difference to them, the fact that she is unmarried does.

Lydia needs a husband. Moreso, Lydia needs a husband who won't expect romantic love and one who can handle what it means to be the spouse of the Consul, and, before that, the spouse of a very liberal, and therefore controversial, Consul-elect. A guard in the short term and someone that Lydia can happily send after her (and likely Alec's) enemies in the long-term.

To make a very long story short, Alec is incredibly delighted at the opportunity for humor that presents itself when Jace announces his and Lydia's intent for a political marriage the following month. (Magnus perhaps even more than Alec to be honest.)

[sky-neverending]

decide which malec idea i turn into a full fic based on the first line

1. If you told Alec Lightwood that at 24, he would be the guardian of a warlock child, he probably would have laughed at you.

2. If you asked the students of Alicante High who the best teacher was, you were likely to get one of two answers.

3. If Alec Lightwood had known that on the day of his 20th birthday, all hell would break loose, maybe he would have bought himself a candle and made a wish to whoever cared enough to listen.

[khaleesiofalicante]

Question! We know that the show takes a very different route for the characters (and how everything works is already different). When Max and Rafe are found (because I refuse to believe they wouldn't), Alec will be Inquisitor already and Magnus the High Warlock of Alicante. And they will be leaving in Alicante, not New York. Max and Rafe would grow up in a slightly different environment. How do you think David would enter this story? Very early? As an adult? What would he be doing?

Max and Rafe are a canon event 😌

I don't think it would necessarily make a big difference. David will probably run away to Idris (instead of New York) to tell the Inquisitor about his papa.

And then he meets Max :)

Alec as an inquisitor has a very different vibe than Consul - because Inquisitor is responsible for upholding the law/Covenant and we know Albert has been breaking it for a while by hurting David. Alec will NOT be forgiving lmao.

[carelessflower]

When Consul LB has a very important meeting with the High Warlock of Alicante

it is very important that this booty call meeting between the consul and the high warlock happen as frequent as possible. it long and hard working hours

[malec-ao3feed]

Wrapped in blood and silk

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/Js62lon by ToTheStarsWriting When Alec came back from Alicante, life had seemed to finally be looking up for him. No longer "Acting" Head of the Institute, all of his hard work had finally paid off. He was the youngest official, fully-vested Institute Head in the past 150 years. Something he'd worked damn hard to achieve. So of course he should've expected for something to happen to change that. With the introduction of Clary Fray into their lives, and all the chaos she brought with her, Alec came home to an Institute in upheaval. Unsanctioned missions, a search for the Cup, and Valentine's daughter running free. And his very first steps towards trying to fix it all - reaching out to the High Warlock they'd all managed to use for help somehow without paying him - ends with a whole lot more trouble than Clary could've ever brought him. Alec goes on a journey that starts with pain and ends with a strange bond he never wanted, a husband he never thought he could have, and the chance to finally affect some real changes in the Shadow World. That is, if they can all survive long enough to see it happen. Words: 2832, Chapters: 1/?, Language: English Fandoms: Shadowhunters (TV) Rating: Explicit Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: F/F, F/M, M/M Characters: Alec Lightwood, Magnus Bane, Valentine Morgenstern, Jace Wayland, Isabelle Lightwood, Clary Fray, Simon Lewis, Raphael Santiago, Ragnor Fell, Catarina Loss, Jocelyn Fairchild, Imogen Herondale, Original Characters, Benji Sunkeep, Andrew Underhill Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Clary Fray/Jace Wayland, Other Relationship Tags to Be Added Additional Tags: Angst, This one is gonna hurt some, Hurt/Comfort, Emotional/Psychological Abuse, Canon-Typical Violence, Torture, Aftermath of Torture, Human Experimentation, Emotional Hurt, Hurt Alec Lightwood, Hurt Magnus Bane, BAMF Alec Lightwood, BAMF Magnus Bane, Slow Burn, Surprisingly, Magic, Blood Magic, Valentine Morgenstern Being an Asshole, valentine is his own warning, Discrimination Against Downworlders, The Clave Being an Asshole (Shadowhunter Chronicles), Alec Lightwood Against the Clave, hybrid alec, Tags Contain Spoilers, Other Additional Tags to Be Added read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/Js62lon