#i have a private twitter but happy to boost in my own circles too!

[lorelaiislatte]

common lucy dacus w. find her tweet here and add your gofundme links or find some to donate to!

[eversall]

ive gone off abt this idea on twitter before but: imagine like simon, clary, jace, izzy and alec have to go on some roadtrip (portaling isnt an option somehow?) so they all pile into simon's van and simon has all these playlists saved for the drive and they're like top hits from the 80's-00's and guilty pleasure songs and stuff. clary and simon screaming the lyrics for teenage dirtbag and mr brightside while alec izzy and jace are concerned/v confused by how intense the two are

honestly simon and clary would be the perfect people to plan road trips. here are snippets from a road trip au i’ll never write: 

.

“There’s a problem,” Simon announces authoritatively, “with the car.” 

“Mm.” Clary nods, like this clears things up. They two of them are standing over the hood of Simon’s van, peering with interest at the smoking engine, while the Lightwood siblings are clustered near the van door, looking on in horror. 

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Alec explodes. “You don’t - you took us out here - in the middle of nowhere - without knowing how to service your own van?”

“I’m sure I’ll figure it out.” Simon says enthusiastically, his eyes already alight with determination. 

“I’m going to die.” Jace says flatly. “This is how I go. Hell is going to be wonderful.” 

“Better here than there.” Izzy mutters nonsensically, before she rolls the sleeves of her sweater up and starts tying her hair into a messy bun. “Move over, Lewis, I got this.” 

“If you insist - “ Simon begins. 

Alec lunges forward and grips Simon by the arm, dragging him backwards. “Oh no, I insist.” He says firmly. “Why don’t you just - rest with us.” Simon snorts, and then full out laughs when he leans against the car and catches sight of Jace’s surly glare.

“It’s not that bad.” Simon insists, and Jace rolls his eyes. 

“How much worse can it be?” He asks, his voice lower as Izzy starts muttering about engines and Clary mm-hmms at all the right moments. 

Simon catches Jace’s gaze, his smile turning softer at the edges, intensely private and warm. Something unfurls in Jace’s heart, quiet and certain. 

“I know how to fix my own car, but this is...you know.” Simon says softly, shrugging as he nods towards Izzy leaning over the hood, her eyes focused as she unscrews something, and Clary staring at Izzy adoringly, biting her lip and looking like she’s discovering something she’s never seen before in Izzy’s eyes. Izzy’s flushed, her cheeks pink and her eyes crinkled at the corners. 

“Don’t tell me this entire trip was to set my sister up with Clary.” Alec complains quietly, but he’s smiling, and Jace huffs out a laugh as he looks back at Simon; protective, caring Simon, loving enough to always think of everyone else. Jace wants to drown in Simon’s optimism, wants Simon to tie Jace to himself so Jace can sink when he sinks, swim when he swims. 

.

The motel is shitty, the sheets uncomfortable, and Jace is pretty sure his back is being permanently disfigured. Still, when Simon whispers “Jace” and beckons him outside Jace goes willingly, slipping his feet into his shoes and grabbing a sweatshirt before slipping out the door of their motel room. 

Outside, the night is quiet in a way that New York never is. Even the crickets feel soft and muted, like a sheet pulled over the earth. Jace’s breath huffs out in front of him, the cold seeping into his fingers and through his thin sleep pants. 

“C’mon.” Simon says, his eyes alight, even in the darkness. His hair is sticking up on one side and he’s clutching a blanket around his shoulders. “Here.” 

Simon throws the blanket onto the roof of his van and then boosts himself up too, surprisingly graceful. Jace follows, judging the jump. 

“No runes!” Simon insists, peering over the roof and holding out his hand to Jace. 

“You just used your vampire strength to jump!” Jace grumbles, but he braces his foot against the car door and grabs Simon’s hand, their finger sliding together perfectly as Simon pulls Jace up. Jace braces his other hand on the car roof and pushes himself over the edge, landing gently on his knees and shuffling to Simon’s side. Simon squeezes Jace’s hand and lets go, and Jace tries not to feel disappointed. 

“Look.” Simon says softly, crossing his legs and leaning back on his hands. He tilts his head up, and Jace follows, his breath catching as the stars spread out over him, sprinkled across the sky. The Milky Way is a tear down the middle, bright lights spilling out of either side and swirling together. Jace settles back, lying down and crossing his arms behind his head as he keeps looking at the stars, unable to tear himself away. There’s just so many, glittering from millions of miles away, and he feels small in that moment, like everything he does is okay. He’s a cosmic microsecond, and he’s going to be okay. 

“Thanks for coming out here with me.” Simon says softly from beside him, lying down next to Jace, and Jace shivers as Simon throws an edge of the blanket over him. 

“It feels right.” Jace murmurs, turning to look at Simon, and in the darkness he can still see the profile of Simon’s face, the curve of his cheek and the way Simon’s gaze burns a path straight through him, lighting him up from inside out until he feels like he’s floating right along that tear in the sky. 

.

Somewhere halfway across the country Jace buys an expensive camera, and learns how to fuss with the zoom and focus to his liking. He takes pictures when he gets bored in the car - Izzy slumped against the window, an arm thrown around Clary; Alec with his arms crossed and his head tilted back, his jaw slack as he sleeps; Simon grinning at the steering wheel, the sunlight tracing a slanted path across his face; a shot of the road curving away from them as they drive across the plains, a path to forever. 

.

They stop midway up a mountain near Yosemite early in the morning, spilling out of the van as grey morning light creeps across the sky. Jace yawns as he turns his camera on, stumbling towards the low-set stone wall marking off the viewpoint and sitting cross-legged on it. He pauses for a second, looking out at the vast space in front of him, reveling in the jagged peaks and smooth cliff faces. 

He feels someone looking at him, and he turns in time to see Simon with his own camera out, pointed straight at Jace, his finger clicking the shutter. Jace squints, and then hops off the wall, making his way to Simon as Simon looks at the picture he just took. 

“I know I’m good-looking, but better than the mountains?” Jace asks, smirking, and Simon rolls his eyes, but he’s grinning as he holds his camera out to Jace. In the picture, Jace is framed by the mountains, his eyes dancing and his lips quirked slightly as he looks at the camera. He’s in sharp focus, the light filtering through his hair, and he looks like a man who’s found a happy ending. 

Jace’s breath catches in his throat, and he looks at Simon. 

“It’s good.” He says, and Simon nods, his eyes flicking to Jace’s lips. 

“Yeah?” Simon asks, and Jace feels his heart overflow at the edges. 

“Yeah.” He says, and then he leans down, his hand coming up to cradle Simon’s cheek as their lips find each other, the kiss warm and slow, something coming back to life in Jace’s chest as Simon grasps Jace’s hip and presses closer.

The kiss is everything Jace has ever wanted from Simon, anchoring him down and soothing some of the ever present hurts deep inside him, the ones he quietly bears. Simon is pliant and soft underneath him, the same way Jace is, and it’s unhurried and slow, Simon slowly pulling Jace into his orbit. 

They break apart reluctantly, resting their foreheads together, and Simon laughs softly. 

“Okay, I didn’t see this happening on a road trip.” He admits. “I, uh, - “

“It’s okay.” Jace says, rubbing circles into Simon’s skin with his thumbs. “Really. We’ll take it a day at a time.” 

“It’s only fair to warn you I plan on being here for a lot of days?” 

“Nicely put.” Jace laughs as Simon scowls. “Me too, Simon.” He kisses Simon again, unable to help himself. “Me too.”