#isabel blabs

[theoraeeken]

okay ive actually thought about this a lot because i am Obsessed™ so i hope you don't mind me jumping on your post to talk about my favourite personal interpretation of the Kinard Kids

- Tommy has one sister, she's older by about seven years, and her name is Isabelle

- She shares a lot of physical traits with Tommy; she's on the tall side, with that strong jawline and nose too. Same dark hair too, but Izzy properly nurtures her curls.

- Growing up, they weren't close. They lived in a household that was highly gendered. Tommy was expected to play sports and hang out with his dad. Izzy was taught taught how to cook all their mum's recipes, told to do chores around the house, etc. They didn't really share space a lot. Tommy thinks that might have made him sad when he was a kid but he didn't know how to bridge that gap, and Izzy regrets not looking out for her kid brother more at the time.

- A lot of the time, the grief that Tommy got from dad was ignored by his mum, and Izzy only stepped in once before their dad turned that attitude on her, and she never did it again. Whether it be from desensitisation or self preservation, Izzy distanced herself from Tommy after that.

- By the time Tommy enlisted, Izzy has already moved out, and they'd barely spoken in months despite her only being twenty minutes across town. He never wrote home.

- When he was discharged, Tommy came back to his home town, feeling raw and defeated. The way they'd left things, he didn't even realise that that no one spoke about Izzy for the entire three months he stayed there, until he packed his bags and moved to LA.

- We all know about the person Tommy is when he's at the 118 - cold, detached, cruel. The seeds of who he really is barely break the top soil for years, everything shoved down and repressed and beaten out of him by years of conditioning. He fakes girlfriends and fucks strangers in bar bathrooms and pretends that it's all enough.

- He doesn't see or hear from Izzy again until their mother's funeral, doesn't realise how bad she's had it until he watches his dad ignore her completely even as they sit next to each other during the service. Tommy doesn't hang around after the funeral, but he does take the number that Izzy shoves in his hand like she wants to give it to him without having to be close enough to do it. It's a phone number, hers. Arizona area code, he notices.

- Bobby joins the 118 maybe four months later, and then Tommy... well, Tommy's got a lot of people to make amends with. Makes sense he'd start with the ones closest to him then work out.

- He sends Izzy a message, a month after he joins the 217. It's awkward at first, trying to catch up on more than a decade of missed time with no real idea of how to speak to this person neither of them recognise. But it goes on for a few months until Izzy asks if he gets any time off.

- He goes to Phoenix. She's working at a cyber security firm, some middle manager job that includes a lot of acronyms he doesn't really understand. She's got five kids - five! - that Tommy didn't know existed. Four nephews and a niece. The oldest is a teenager, who obviously thinks he's a fucking tool.

- The third night he's there, they get drunk. Wildly, inappropriately drunk. The whole story comes out. Izzy's regrets at not standing by Tommy while she watched his dad beat anything good out of him from the start. Grieving him when he went to war, never knowing if he was alive or dead. Never knowing how to bridge that gap. She tells him she'd been terrified at the funeral, wondering if he was like their dad. He tells her that he's gay.

- He finds out that Izzy hasn't spoken to their dad since she moved out to Arizona. He hadn't liked her soon to be husband - for any number of reasons - and it had been the final straw. Their mother cried while they screamed at each other. Izzy left, never looked back.

- Her partner died. Car crash. Tommy had been in LA with no idea how his sister was planning her husband's funeral, looking after five kids alone. He bawls his eyes out into her shoulder when he finds out. She's crying too, holds him tight enough her arms ache.

- In the morning, he makes them both breakfast. It's awful. She laughs, and he laughs a bit too.

- Now, Tommy uses most of his holiday every year to spend a couple of weeks in Arizona with them. He's met her in laws, thanked them for watching out for her when he couldn't. The kids know him, hug him when he turns up. He's even hosted the oldest at his place in LA when the kid was looking at colleges in California, cooked him breakfast that's improved massively over the years. He ended up in San Diego, and Tommy makes a point of dropping in on him when he's got a day off every now and then.

- (Izzy loves Evan. After a year of dating, Tommy had taken him out to Arizona, and Evan listened, enraptured, as Izzy took him through all of their mum's recipes, told the handful of light hearted stories she has of Tommy as a kid, and Evan knew better than to ask about any others. She mixes them all margaritas and they sit in the garden, laughing.)

- (He finds out a month later Izzy and Evan text each other constantly. They have weird little in jokes about him. Evan's developed an obsession with computer science and routinely has to explain what Izzy was talking about when Tommy comes off the phone with her.)

- (She flies back down to California for their engagement party. Hugs Tommy so hard they crash into a side table. Then, hugs Evan, kisses him on the cheek, and tells him, I told you he'd say yes.)

do you guys think tommy is an only child or does he have siblings. is he an older sibling or a younger sibling, or a middle child or none of the above??? idk if we’ll ever find out but we can speculate ☺️

[fifthgazelle]

rest in peace maddy/tara you would have loved pulldrone by ethel cain

i am infatuated with both i saw the tv glow and ethel cain. i must blab sorry guys here i go

are we seeing the vision

"nature chews on me"

they're literally buried i can't think of a more suitable meaning in this context what else can i say

"annihilation / this agony / such is the consequence of audience"

maddy/tara is observed significantly less than owen/isabel throughout the movie, both within the story (in their homes) and as a viewer, we just see them less, HOWEVER. i read this more as them looking back on WHY owen/isabel wouldn't go with them; she had an audience! time and time again, when offered a way out of view to cut loose, she didn't take it and that culminated in consequence!

"i will claw my way back to the great dark and we will not speak of this place again"

"AND THEN I WAS CLAWING MY WAY UP OUT OF THE GROUND"!!! DO I EVEN NEED TO SAY ANYTHING HERE

i will say anything here

"WE will not speak of this place again". they were supposed to return to their sleepaway camp TOGETHER after maddy/tara (kind of pivoting on my connection point to "the great dark" but that could arguably be either side) returns to the midnight realm to retrieve owen/isabel.

i really hope this is somewhat coherent i'm a tad out of it but i needed to flap my mouth anyway i love maddy/tara and jack haven and jane schoenbrun and alex g and ethel cain and

[jailhouserock45]

I still can't get it out of my head.

From what I've gathered and seen through the lovely gifs that everyone shares, I got myself excited for caryl going canon even though I told myself that ship had probably sailed😅

After around season 8-9 I started thinking "huh, maybe they won't do anything about these two people who very much love eachother and have chemistry off the charts, and keep them buddies instead."

And I slowly have been accepting it (ish) over the years...UNTIL....

Daryl got his spinoff.

And even though I haven't watched it, only through gifs, videos, tumblr posts etc etc...(so please correct me if I'm wrong anyone😆) but it REALLY seemed to me that they were finally finding the excuse to make Daryl realize his feelings for Carol this whole time, in turn making him NEED to get back to her and finally do something about it.

From things like the pigeon handler saying "maybe he has a girlfriend? Yes, we all have someone who waits for us somewhere." Then the camera immediately showing Daryl, who looks down in thought as if longing for something...(*cough cough* someone...)

Like, we already know he has DREAMT of going back home, and he has DREAMT of Carol.

Dreaming of her, people...What are we SUPPOSED to think he's thinking?

The pigeon handler even mentioned a girlfriend. That wasn't completely necessary to add but they did. Hmm.

Then I saw a clip of Daryl, (the whole thing probably lasts 2 seconds) glancing at an older couple who are sitting close together, and smiling at eachother.

Daryl observes that, then has that same longing/sad look on his face before moving on.

What on earth? Like I said, I haven't watched it so maybe I'm way off and I need context, but to me that implies he is wanting something like what those older people have... and with who else other than Carol? There is no other person he has been close to...

Then we have a moment of pretty big significance to me.

Daryl was asked if he'd ever been in love....and he HESITATES.

He didn't automatically shake is his head, and let out a gruff "nah" and drop it. He had to think about it.

It's plain to see in his body language that the answer is yes, but he doesn't say anything.

Obviously a person came to his mind, we just don't know who. Why??

If we are supposed to view him as a guy who only wants to go home, WHY are there so many romantic undertones going on? And if there is hints of romance, who would they (the writers) be implying Daryl is thinking about?

We've seen the only woman on his mind is Carol, (hence the dream) and we aren't supposed to put the pieces together??

Ever since the first episode of the spinoff aired, I've been confused and hopeful and excited and then sad and then feeling foolish...the list goes on😂

Like I said before, if this whole time they hadn't been leading up to Canon, and they only wanted to keep Daryl and Carol "sibling-like" besties, they REALLY didn't do a great job at it.

(Or maybe we were supposed to think that Daryl was thinking about Isabelle? If that's the case, they messed up with that too😆)

I'm just an observer so maybe I'm dead wrong about everthing and just hung up on Caryl...that is a possibility I guess lol!

Anywhoo, I'm done blabbing. Bye👋

[gaspilles]

my very long and random thoughts as i watch the last episode of iwtv s1 for my own amusement.

spoilers under the cut

- why is lestat literally terriying. i hate him

- louis is so in love with him this is fucked. me. when.

- i love the way claudia speaks

- NOT HIM MAKING THE MAN BEAT HIMSELF UP 😭😭😭

- mardi gras 👀👀👀

- god they're gonna kill everyone

- claudia jumping off their balcony in front of so many people like it's nothing 😭

- LESTAT THE KING OF MARDI GRAS my gay dad is so dramatic

- they're fucking bribing him with a boat..... jesus christ how loaded are these fuckers

- why are they so cool. i am weak

- he is so distracted about rashid possibly being immortal

- let the flesh instruct the mind

- her throwing that lollipop upset me a lil

- LESTAT MY GAY DADHDHD

- A BABYGVcvvbv?!????? A BABY

.... a baby. i'm sorry it looks too real i'm gonna be sick

- FUCK ME GSHHSHS THEY GOT ME 😭😭😭

- Lestat's clear disgust for these women i'm cRYIN 💀

- not a bible joke told by lestathds

- NO HE BETTER NOT HAVE MADE HER A FUCKING VAMPIRE I WILL FUCKING LOSE IT. THIS WOULD BE MY LAST STRAW. LOUIS, GET UP

- THERE'S MOREvbv?!???????

- what in the actual fuck is going on

- f@g pederast satanic trio???? 😭😭 WHAT IS THIS SCRIPTJFF

- 'nEVER get mARRIEDHDJ'

- why is he about to cry rn this man is so weird

- them dancing together in public 😩😩🥹🥹🥹🥹🤎🤎🤎🤎

- "I was his and he was mine" FUCK RIGHT OFF RIGHT NOW GODDD

- PLEASEHEDHD

- how is she going to fukn get him to drink the poison when he could taste cancer in the man's blood

- NOT THE ELIXIR OF LIFEHDH ARE WE A JOKE TO U 😭😭 dont answer that

- the gore in this show will forever catch me off guard

- ohmygod they're so cool

- my love

- i'm so scareddhjshjd

- THEY GON GET CAUGHT AND HE'S GONNA KILL ALL OFTHEM PLEASE 😭😭

- i have never felt so betrayed in my life. HE WASNT TALKING TO LOUIS WHEN HE SAID THAT. GO FUCKING BURN LESTAT

- i'm gonna kill this bitch

- FUCK CLAUDIA U GENIUS

- KILL ANTOINETTE. KILL HER

- claudia u sadistic fuckergdhsjs i love you

- not louis looking at lestat in pain. this is agony

- PATYA NA SYA CLAUDIA PATYA!!!!!!

- i'm glad it was you louis

- i don't understand how he died just like that

- HE LET HIM SURVIVE ON PURPOSE

- OHMYGFUCKIG GOD HE COULDNT KILL HIM 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭💔💔💔💔💔💔💔

- RASHID'S REVELATION OMFG

- I'M SO CONFUSEDHDH

there's too much going on in my brain rn idk how to cope

[lovinhalo]

-

[traes]

me every 5 minutes when the playlist I carefully curated dishes out another fuckin banger

[johnbottoms]

I've had my shelves up for like a week or smth but my issue is. all my little figurines and things r so mismatched it's like. how on earth am I supposed to display them

[dream-a-little-bigger-x]

The public (Isabelle) have spoken

[clubolive]

I thoroughly enjoy the range you can have in animal crossing fashion

[bird-seed27]

I kind of want to start my own animal crossing blog.... I’ve played for soooooo long in the past two days and I started following another account who is keeping a diary of everything she’s done so far in her game. That sounds like fun during this boring time but thinking realistically I probably would forget about it if I do it. The museums going to be built tomorrow and I’m going to buy my house tomorrow, so I’m looking foreward to that.

ALSO: YOU GET A FREE NINTENDO ONLINE SUBSCRIPTION IF YOU PREORDERED ACNH ONLINE

So if you have access to this, please please please add me on switch. I would love to play with some new people, regardless if we’re mutual or not.

My friend code is: SW-2798-8331-9888

[love-toxin]

ellie. i know you answered an ask about who would let darling have a job…..

but on a scale of 1 to 10 how difficult would it be for ocs of yours (that wouldn’t let their darling work) to be convinced to let their darling have (financial or physical) freedom/independence to do their own stuff. as in darling is sobbing and crying and vomiting for a crumb of freedom. as in they fall to the floor SCREAMING AND BEGGIN-* GUNSHOT *

heh.

Ilya would be a good 9. It would be very difficult for you to convince him to let you out and into the world, and for the most part it's for a good reason. He's got a lot of enemies, he works a dangerous job, and there's so many evil people out there who would jump at the chance to snatch a beautiful thing like you away from him. But it's not impossible. If you can prove to him that you'll be doing your utmost to stay out of trouble, whether it be by convincing him with words alone or sneaking out of the house just to come back, he can be swayed to let you have a job or just wander about as you please. You'll still have restrictions, of course, like a curfew and a falcon to reach him if you get into trouble, but he would let you out on your own if you agreed to those terms.

Hyun would be a 7. Still difficult but slightly easier because he knows how hard it is for himself to stay close to home--he loves to go out so he'll eventually realize how hard it is for you, too, and he can be convinced as long as you're not going too far. And he'll start off slow, like taking you to the grocery store (which he probably already does), restaurants, and giving you some money to go to the convenience store or the pharmacy and come back.

Isabelle is a 10. In her eyes, your purpose will be fulfilled at home, and nowhere else--plus it wouldn't benefit her to let you run off and blab about her little secret. The only way you're getting out of her house is if she decides you're docile enough to take you to the bar for a night, in which she'll sit you right in front of her and watch with a smirk as people try to flirt with you, just for you to fear her so badly that you're forced to turn each of them down. And every so often, she'll take a short break to bring you to the bathroom and fuck your brains out before making you wobble all the way back to your barstool.

[gleefulfan]

In Defense of Benji Pt. 2/2

Part 1

Here's the last three episodes of Season 2. Like I said in part 1 (which I’d recommend reading first), I’m not trying to make Benji out as a saint, I’m just trying to show why Benji did the things he did and that a lot of the comments I’ve seen about him have been unfair.

2x08 (The Morning After): I have to break this episode down into three parts because so much happens.

Initial Victor/Benji/Isabel fight: All Victor and Benji need at this point is some hot make-up sex and a nice honest conversation the next morning. Unfortunately they only get part-way through the first before Isabel walks in on them. Everyone is understandably upset and Victor and his mom are arguing while Benji listens in.

When Isabel says “What excuse could you possibly have for doing that in my house?” Benji, who has had an extremely emotional evening, can’t take it anymore. Now it’s impossible to know how exactly Isabel would have reacted had Benji been a girl, but you can certainly understand why Benji assumes that this is just another homophobic comment from Isabel after months and months of them.

The argument is honestly not too bad until Adrian walks in and Isabel calls Benji Victor’s “friend” yet again. Now we know and Victor knows that she’s called Benji his boyfriend before and is only saying this because of Adrian, but Benji doesn’t know that. To him, it’s just more homophobia. And while it’s impossible to know exactly what Benji’s intentions are in this moment, I firmly believe that Benji was not intentionally outing Victor to Adrian, but demanding that Isabel recognize his and Victor’s relationship. The outburst came from frustration and passion, not malice.

At that point Isabel kicks Benji out and when Benji looks to Victor for support, Victor backs up his mom. You can see the disappointment on Benji’s face and that he feels like Victor sided with his homophobic mother over his boyfriend.

Victor/Benji Coffeehouse fight: When Victor and Benji see each other again at work, both are looking for an apology. Honestly, I don’t really get the first two-thirds of Victor’s request for an apology. Of the three people involved in Isabel walking in on them, Benji’s the least to blame. It’s not his house, he didn’t know Adrian was there, Victor asked him to his room. And even if Isabel wasn’t being homophobic, she’s been homophobic towards Benji so many times without any apology or remonstration that it’s hardly his fault for assuming it.

Victor and Benji argue over Victor’s mom again and it’s at this point Victor says “I’m sorry we can’t all have totally supportive liberal white parents like you do.” Benji responds saying “What does being white have to do with anything?”

I find this interaction really frustrating because it comes completely out of the blue. Have Victor and Benji ever discussed race before? Has Victor ever cited his mom’s Latinx upbringing as a reason for the way she’s been acting? Obviously, when a POC tells a white person that they don’t understand something in that person’s life because they’re white, Benji’s response is not the right one. Benji is a seemingly progressive teenager in a well-to-do suburb of Atlanta, I find it hard to believe he doesn’t have any concept of race and how it may have affected Victor and his family. But we don’t get anything beyond these two lines.

To move outside of the text for a moment, it feels like these lines were inserted so that Victor and Rahim could talk about race later in the episode rather than have Victor and Benji actually talk about race. And that later scene is really good, but it comes at the expense of making Benji seem inexplicably callous about something really important. I really hope we get an opportunity in season 3 for Benji and Victor to really talk about this.

Other than that, Victor is kinda awful to Benji here. He calls Benji’s parents “totally supportive” when he knows they weren’t and that Benji really struggled. And Benji’s opinion shouldn’t be “meaningless” even if there are things about the situation he can’t understand. I understand why Victor’s upset but it should be no surprise that Benji stalks off.

Victor/Benji at Benji’s House: Victor goes over after not being able to contact Benji all day. They actually talk about Victor being worried and Benji’s alcoholism a little bit and the conversation is going pretty well, until Benji sees a text from Rahim and Victor admits he told Rahim about Benji’s alcoholism.

This is a pretty awful thing for Victor to have done. Because we almost never get Benji’s point-of-view, it doesn’t necessarily feel that way. We understand why Victor told Rahim and we know Rahim is trustworthy, but Benji doesn’t know any of that. And more than that, Victor knows (or should know) how important this is to Benji and how ashamed of it he is. And not even 24 hours after finding out, Victor’s already blabbed it to someone else. No wonder Benji tells him they need a break.

2x09 (Victor’s Day Off): Benji isn’t really in this episode, which is largely dedicated to building Rahim up as a plausible alternative love interest to Benji for the finale cliffhanger. We do see a short conversation when Benji calls Victor, where Benji presumably tells Victor that he misses him (Victor says I miss you too), but that Benji doesn’t want to rush back into anything and can’t go to the wedding with Victor.

2x10 (Close Your Eyes): Benji’s in two scenes in the finale, one with Isabel (a very rare Benji scene without Victor present), and one where he goes to and then quickly leaves the wedding when he sees Victor dancing with Rahim.

Arguably you could say Benji is being presumptuous by assuming something is going on between Victor and Rahim, but within minutes of Benji leaving, Rahim admitted he likes Victor and Victor told Felix he felt something, even if he wasn’t sure what.

Again, none of this is to claim Benji is perfect. Benji and Victor are two 16-year-olds who love each other a whole lot who haven’t learned to communicate well and lash out when they’re upset. Victor has just as much to work on as Benji and hopefully we’ll get the chance to see them work on themselves together in Season 3.

[glassesandswords]

Of Wings And Wheelchairs

Pairing: Levi Ackerman & Onyankopon, Levi Ackerman/Hange Zoe (mentioned)

Summary:  Levi and Onyankopon sit in a coffee shop, waiting for Gabi and Falco to return from their small detour during their vacation together. Levi reminisces about the old Survey Corps veterans and their times together as Onyankopon listens. Soon, the conversation makes its way to a person the two knew very well- Hange.

Ao3 Link

“Let’s wait here.”

Levi and Onyankopon stopped at a coffee shop. With so many people bustling about, it was hard to find a place to relax for a while, especially with all the walking they had done. Well, at least all the walking that Onyankopon, Gabi and Falco had done- as Levi had been pushed around on a wheelchair by Falco the whole time. But the kids had spotted an ice cream vendor and left together to buy something to eat, and the older men decided to get a quick drink before continuing on with their journey.

The coffee shop had outdoor seating shaded by giant blue umbrellas that flared briskly over the round tables. A florist sold bouquets nearby. The scent of roses and lavenders wafted through the air, mingling with that of roast coffee.

“Are you sure letting Gabi and Falco go off on their own in a foreign land a good idea?” Levi asked as Onyankopon looked around for an empty table.

“They are fifteen now. They will be alright. Us, old men, shouldn’t be interfering with a pair of love-birds, so let them enjoy this vacation on their own.”

“You might be right about that.”

Onyankopon decided on an empty table on the opposite end of the florist and parked Levi next to him as he pulled a chair for himself. “Fifteen, huh?” Levi muttered, adjusting his wheelchair close to the table. “If they were in Paradis, they would have graduated from the cadet corps. But these two- they have had their fill of the battlefield way before that, being Marley’s warrior candidates and all.”

“Yes. That’s why they deserve to live like the carefree and free-spirited children they are right now.”

“Not that any child needs a reason to live like that. They all are equally deserving of happiness.”

“Of course,” Onyankopon called the waiter over to them. “A black tea and a black coffee, please.”

Levi noted how Onyankopon kept his favorite drink in mind and ordered it for him by default. Over the past three years, the two men had bonded over their shared losses and he had been a constant companion for Levi after the war. Onyankopon had helped him start a new life and set up his own tea shop after he retired in Marley, taking care of all the paperwork and technical details required.

“I heard you spent your childhood in the underground district within Wall Sina,” Onyankopon said as he watched the waiter leave with their order. “I wasn’t allowed there due to the restrictions on the volunteers, but I heard it was a rough place to live in.”

Levi raised an eyebrow. That piece of information was hardly common knowledge. 

“I think I might have an idea of who babbled to you about that,” the face of a certain four-eyed abnormal popped up on Levi’s mind. “Yes. I was raised as a thug in order to survive that hellhole.”

“Did you have anyone close to you at that time? Your parents? Any siblings?”

Usually, Levi would have found it annoying if people dug into his past. But with Onyankopon, he did not really mind. “I was an only child,” he replied, leaning back on his wheelchair, “My mother died when I was young and the closest thing I had to a father was an uncle who abandoned me as soon as he realized that I could take care of myself.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, it’s an old story,” he waved his pity off, “I did have two close friends there. Farlan and Isabel. They were as good as a brother and sister to me.” A fond remembrance flitted over his face, as if he could see them in his mind’s eye as he spoke. “The three of us thought life above the ground, in a land touched by the sun would be better. Turns out it is all the same.”

It wasn’t hard for Onyankopon to make out that Farlan and Isabel were probably no more from how Levi’s voice dipped. He changed the topic to something lighter.

“But you finally retired from all your duties and responsibilities. How does it feel to go on vacations to foreign countries?”

“I’m surprised you are dragging me along. Not like I could be of any service anyway, after being permanently bound to this wheelchair,” Levi tapped on the metal armrest. 

“You are too humble, Levi,” Onyankopon shook his head, “I’ve seen you offering guidance to Armin and the others whenever they need it.”

“I help them as much as I can, but in the end, it is nothing more than an old man’s advice.” Levi sighed, remembering a certain someone’s soliloquy in a forest. “Times have changed and perspectives are different. After the rumbling ended, Armin offered me retirement and I took it. But even if I were in top shape, I honestly don’t think I would want to do anything with the Alliance anymore.”

Onyankopon watched Levi as he gazed at the busy road. The man looked broken, like he had lost way too much in life. He reminded him of some of the volunteers who had seen their families killed and hometowns destroyed in front of their own eyes. For previously being known as ‘Humanity’s strongest soldier’, Onyankopon had not seen Levi in action a lot. But the way he held himself together during that day- exactly three years ago, after Odiha- was a testament to his immense internal strength. The man in front of him was a fighter, but the fight had taken its toll on him.

The waiter arrived with steaming drinks and served it on the table.

“How do you drink that bitter bean-juice?” Levi asked as Onyankopon took a careful sip, trying not to burn his tongue in the scalding liquid.

“Six years and you still haven’t warmed up to coffee, have you?”

“I prefer tea, usually that of my own shop.” He sipped his tea, holding it by the rim with his left hand. “But I have to admit, the aroma of coffee is quite enticing.” His voice went back to its hazy tone. “Mike would have liked it. That guy had a sharp nose for things like these.”

Though Onyankopon did not know the details, he knew Mike was probably one of Levi’s previous comrades.

Levi had a habit of talking about his fallen comrades now and then. He did not seem to care if the other person knew them personally or not. Onyankopon assumed that it was to remember and acknowledge their existence and stories, being the last living veteran from his original group.

He heard about the battle of Shiganshina that resulted in the complete decimation of the earlier Survey Corps and wondered if Mike was one of the people who died there. Or maybe he had been one of the many unfortunate victims who were killed by the hands of the pure titans long before. Onyankopon felt a small stab of guilt for following Zeke, who had caused nothing but pain for Levi and the rest of the Survey Corps, but he had his own circumstances. Choosing sides had blinded them from appealing to their common humanity, until Yelena had revealed to him the plan to offer assistance to Paradis before their first scouting expedition six years ago. He had almost convinced himself that the Paradis military would crush them with their titan power before they could put forth that proposal, but then, a certain Survey Corps Commander gave them the warmest welcome they could have received in the island of ‘devils’.

“Brings back memories,” he hummed over his coffee, “Remember, the first time we chatted was over a cup of tea in that tent?”

“Ah yes,” Levi nodded grimly, “Another one of that person’s stupidly optimistic ideas. It was a surprise that you volunteers actually agreed to it.”

There was a silence as Onyankopon knew exactly who he was referring to.

Levi sipped his tea. “Honestly, they’d come up with the most reckless ideas, that Four-eyes.”

Onyankopon gave a small, sad smile. It seemed safe to talk about them. “I have to admit,” he said slowly, “I was shocked when they pointed the barrel of that gun over their one good eye, even if it was unloaded.”

“You don’t know half the trouble Hange caused back in the Survey Corps,” Levi shook his head disapprovingly. “Always blabbing about their latest hypotheses. Putting my entire squad in danger for another titan capture mission. They’d have had their head bitten off by a titan long ago if it wasn’t for their trusty assistant, Moblit. Hell, they went days without taking a damned bath just because something more interesting caught their attention. Sometimes, when I couldn’t bear the stink, I had to knock them out and clean them myself.”

Onyankopon chuckled at his ramble. He had observed Levi and Hange’s inseparable relationship from his time at Paradis. Maybe it was because they were the last ones to survive from their generation, or maybe it extended a little deeper than that. Onyankopon was not completely sure. He gazed at the long scar across Levi’s face, crossing through his one blind eye. If Hange were there, the two of them would have made quite the one-eyed pair.

But Hange wasn’t there as they had sacrificed themself so that he and Levi could sit in peace under a blue umbrella, drinking hot beverages on a sunny day without worrying about anything else.

Levi was still rambling on, “...all those stupid naming ceremonies for the captured titans. At least three Garrison guards used to throw up after each of their experiments. The tantrums they’d throw in Erwin’s office whenever he denied their requests. That Four-eyes once talked to me about titans and their planned experiments for two days straight after we first found out about Eren’s abilities. Can you believe it? Two days!”

There was a bitter aftertaste in Levi’s mouth and he knew it had nothing to do with the tea. A memory of Hange floated in his mind, of them carefully dabbing medicated cotton over Eren’s face after he had kicked the hell out of him in the courtroom all those years ago. He remembered Hange chiding him for having gone too far and declaring that they’d never kill Eren.

His stomach twisted at the irony of how everything played out in the end.

Onyankopon’s voice stirred him out of his thoughts. “It must have been hard for them to pursue their scientific research after they became the commander.”

“It did take a huge toll on them,” Levi agreed, “Erwin’s shoes would have been hard for anyone to fill. But he himself chose them as his successor and they did their job well, even if all odds were against them.” He gave a short sigh through his nose. “But over the years, they changed too much.”

Levi had noticed all the times when Hange had faked a smile to cover up their exhaustion. They tried to maintain their cheerful façade through all the uncertainty to keep their subordinates from becoming concerned about their mental well-being, but from his time with the past two commanders, Levi knew the bone-crushing pressure they were under.

He had spotted the missing tea from his shelf during all those late nights when Hange had fallen asleep on their desk after pulling multiple all-nighters. Although they weren’t new to burning the midnight oil, the commander’s work was grueling. Adding to that, the knowledge and responsibility of dealing with an entire world full of potential enemies weighed them down incredibly. Only he knew how tired and defeated Erwin had looked during his last moments with him. In a way, the role demanded much more from Hange than it did from Erwin himself.

“You mean they were more excitable before?” Onyankopon asked, “I really did not think they could look more starry-eyed than while they were being introduced to all the new technology from Marley.” He chuckled, “The way they whooped after the success of the new improved 3DMG test session was unforgettable.”

Levi set down his empty cup. “Hange was always a vocal advocate for technological advancement. Their inventions helped to get rid of all the pure titans in the island without much loss of human life. When they were given the hope that the rest of the world was not as cruel as we thought it was- but a place where they could learn and discover- that was when I saw them truly happy for the last time. They hoped to make peace when we left off for our first Marley visit. But we both know how that ended.”

Ah, yes that Marley trip, Onyankopon thought as a tense silence settled between them, The time when everything spiraled out of control. To ease the heavy pauses, he decided to bring up some good memories from back then.

“Remember the time when Hange bought that lollipop from that clown just so that he’d stop stalking you? And the time when they tried to feed carrots to a car?”

Thankfully, it seemed to work as Levi snorted. “Shitty-Glasses was supposed to be the smartest of us all,” he said, “Yet, that was still better than the way they squealed after the camera flash the first time we took a picture in Azumabito's place. Now that was just plain embarrassing.”

Onyankopon smiled. When Levi's squad was out drinking, he had insisted Levi and Hange to take a photograph with himself and the Azumabitos as a keepsake memory of their first official trip outside Paradis. Hopes were ripe that night, with the peace conference scheduled for the next day. To keep their optimism up, they had a small dance session in which Hange had dragged Levi with them and had successfully managed two rounds around the ballroom before Levi remarked that it was ridiculous and sulked in a corner for the rest of the night with a wine glass on hand. After which Hange teased him and invited Onyankopon to give them company instead.

When the camera was ready, they were all suited up- with hats placed on their heads despite the fact that it was evening- just for the sake of the photograph session. Onyankopon knew that the Paradisians had never taken a picture before, so his eyes were on Levi and Hange instead of the camera.

Their reactions did not disappoint.

Hange squealed as the flash lit up the room and Levi flinched, grimacing at its sudden brightness. The photograph was quite comical when it was developed: Hange with their mouth slightly open, Levi with his eyes half closed and Onyankopon’s lips in an amused half-smile as he gazed at them.

“To be honest, you looked quite shaken at the flash yourself,” he pointed out to Levi.

“Yes, but I did not wake up everyone in a fifty mile radius within the building.”

“It didn’t seem to wake the kids up, though.”

“What do you expect? Not even Hange can wake up a bunch of hungover brats who had drank all night and ended up passed out on each other.”

“The three of us had to carry them back, didn’t we?”

“Only for Sasha to puke all over the new suit I wore for the photoshoot.”

Onyankopon laughed at that memory. The waiter came over with the bill and he paid it before Levi could reach for his own wallet.

“I told you before,” he said to Levi as he handed over the money, “This vacation is entirely on me.”

“Thanks,” Levi kept his wallet back inside his pocket, knowing that arguing about it would not change Onyankopon’s mind.

They sat in silence for a while, gazing at the people walking around, exploring the shops. Levi got a few quick stares now and then because of his heavily scarred face, but he did not care. He was used to people staring at him; the annoying looks of envy and awe when he was considered as humanity’s strongest soldier, glares of anger from the military higher-ups after he had brought back Armin instead of Erwin during the battle of Shiganshina, and gazes of pity after he had been severely injured due to the thunder spear, thanks to that shitty monkey.

“I wonder what happened to that photograph,” he murmured, his mind wandering back to that day in Marley.

“It was left in Paradis,” Onyankopon replied, “The militants probably disposed of it along with the rest of our belongings after we were declared traitors. It’s been three years after all.”

Levi’s heart sank. That was the last piece of Hange he had left, apart from the scars they had stitched across his face. If everything was disposed of, that would mean that the badges he had collected from the uniforms of his former comrades, his letters, Hange’s research notes, Moblit’s sketches from the night they visited a bar after work, all of their personal belongings- everything had been burnt or destroyed. Apart from Erwin’s grave, there was nothing left for him back in Paradis- the place the Survey Corps dedicated their lives and hearts for all those years.

He masked his bitterness, “It was just a piece of paper anyway.”

Onyankopon did not say anything. The cost of freedom had been incredibly heavy for both of them.

“It’s been three years, huh?”

“Yeah.”

Levi remembered that moment when the spirits of his comrades appeared in front of him as he sat battered and broken. The old Survey Corps, with whom he had spent so many years fighting, resting, experimenting and pushing through every loss, every death and every failure together. He had finally finished their job. He had taken all of their dedicated hearts with him and won for them.

His final salute both crushed his soul and set him free.

A part of him wanted to depart with them. His duty was done, Zeke was killed, the rumbling was stopped and the world was finally free of titans. What use would he be to anyone anymore?

But he knew that the others would want him to live the life that they couldn’t. To explore the world and all it had to offer. To make the dream of world-peace come true.

So, he decided that he would go on, and when his time finally comes, he would stand tall among his noble comrades and tell them stories of the world they never got to see.

Levi hesitated for a moment before turning to Onyankopon.

“Do you think they’re still watching over us?”

Onyankopon didn’t miss a beat.

“I’m sure they are.”

Gabi and Falco reappeared from the crowd, with half-eaten ice cream cones in their hands. The brats had grown so much since the first time he had seen them, all beaten up and bruised on that zeppelin three years ago. Now they looked happy and content, their eyes shining with hope, optimism and love.

Hange’s words from all those years ago played in his mind.

I want everyone to feel safe again soon. I want this to be a world where people can live without fighting each other.

There was still a long way to go for that, but with the threat of the titans gone, they only had humans to negotiate with. Though that probably did not make it any easier, peace was still an option. He’d leave that to Armin and Historia.

Erwin and Hange would have loved it here. All the new places and technology, exotic food, new discoveries; it would have blown their minds. Sometimes, he wondered what would have happened if that bastard Floch did not show up to shoot holes in that fuel tank. Hange would have been alive, they would have boarded the plane together, they could have seen the flying titan and the previous titan shifters. It might have probably returned them to their normal, curious self again.

They could have survived together.

What would Hange have done now that the titans, their life’s work, were gone forever? The two of them had never really discussed such situations, for they never imagined such a day would actually come to be. For them, a world without the threat of titans was a distant fantasy. But if Hange were alive, they’d have probably headed the peace talks. They were never the one to stay out of the action anyway.

“Sorry, we were a little late,” Falco said as he approached them, “Shall we go?”

“Sure, no problem.”

Falco popped the rest of the ice cream in his mouth before silently pulling the wheelchair by its handle without being prompted to. He was a sweet kid. Erwin, Hange and the rest of his old squad- Petra, Oulo, Eld, Gunther- would have liked him.

Levi picked up a newspaper from a vendor, to see if there were any mentions of the peace committee who had set sail for Paradis earlier that day. As they made their way through the street, he winced as the wheel stumbled over a small pothole.

“I’m so sorry,” Falco exclaimed.

“No, that’s fine,” he rubbed his back. “Times like these are when I really miss Four-eyes.”

Onyankopon laughed, “They’d have come up with a crazy convenient wheelchair, custom-made for you.”

“Knowing them, they would have probably attached an engine and the 3DMG trigger-anchor system complete with a safety belt into the wheelchair,” he shook his head. “Then again, I think they might have also pushed me down a slope as a test run, so maybe I’m safer this way.”

A distant hum of an engine made all of them look above.

A plane, similar to the one they had taken off from in Odiha, flew past the sky, its shadow falling on them as it streaked by.

For the kids, it was just another ordinary plane they stared fascinated at. But for him, something about it felt reassuring.

It was almost as if…

Levi glanced at Onyankopon, who gave him a knowing look.

So, they were watching us after all.

[rimaiahwrites]

Found royalty

A/n: ok so this is my first Erik sevens book, I have been working on it for a longggg time and I’m finally ready to publish it. I would love it if you guys could give me feed back? That would make my job a LOT more fun and easier.

Sammary: when Erik went searching for his royalty he finds more then he was looking for.

Erik x black-OC

P R O L G O U E

The beginning—

June 5th, 2017

Israel hummed and nodded her head to west side boogie silent ride, it was a fun summery song With such depressing deep lyrics, something she could relate and vibe with. It's beat was nice and it had meaningful lyrics something you don't hear to often with nowadays rappers.

"I wish I was outta my head," She sang softly along while shifting uncomfortably in the drivers seat. her thighs sticking to her leather seats, the sun was beaming down into her red drop top making her shea butter cover brown skin gleam in the heat. It was a very hot California day and Israel was loving it. she was soaking up all the vitamin D and getting a darker ten, making her skin a rich chocolate.

She had just came back from her high school, they had informed her that she could come pick up her diploma. She has been homeschooled her whole life so she didn't get to graduate at the school along with the other graduates but she did take the finals which is why they were giving her a diploma. She was getting her Life started, she was finally a adult. She got a job at sixteen and her drivers license. Her parents bought her a car, graduated, and now she was ready to go to college and get her own apartment. She knew it was going to be hard being away from her parents but she was finally going to get the freedom she has wanted and dreamt about since she was fore-teen.

She pulled up Her drive way and turned off the engine once she was parked. She stepped outta her car and walked up to the unlocked front door, when she walked in and closed the door her mother came rushing to her with a big wooden spoon in her right hand, her face scrunched up in anger, looking like someone's grandma.

"Where the hell were you? You ain't ask nobody to go no where so I don't know why you think you can just leave and come as you please, just because you eight teen don't mean you can do whatever you want. you still live under our roof." Her mother blab pointing the spoon at her, with her hand on her hip. Isabel was referring her husband- Israels father when she said 'our' house' because god rebid if he ever heard her say my house.

Israel mentally rolled her eyes as she stood at the front door untiring her lace up sandals. Her parents were very strict with her and only her. Her other three brothers could always do whatever they please because they were boys and 'boys will be boys' as her father like to say. Honestly to Israel it was bullshit and sexist but she could never say that to her parents of course, unless she wanted her mama to knock her front teeth out.

"I just went to go get my diploma I'm sorry mama," Israel pouted her pump lips and gave her mother her baby eyes knowing it'll make her mama feel bad. Her mother- Isabel let a sigh of relief out as she reached out to grab the paper from her daughters Dainty hands.

"It's ok baby just be sure to tell me next time I wouldn't want your father to find out that you're leaving this house with out permission you know how he is...and congratulations baby I'm so proud of you." Her mother gushed, being very happy that her only daughter was finally becoming the women she always knew she'll be A strong independent individual.

"Thank you mama I'm proud of myself." She giggled to herself. Feeling her mother embrace her in a warm hug, she nuzzled her head In the crack of her mother neck, inhaling the scent of lavender and lemon. Making her feel the sense of comfort. Isabel pulled away and unrolled her diploma, her bright white smile beaming making them pop against her wrinkl-free dark skin.

"I'm gonna hang this up with your brothers..." she announced making her way to the living room to find a frame while Israel undid her other shoes before making her way up the stairs. She pasted her brother's room and snorted loudly trying to stop her laughter. Jay the oldest of the four, was home from college and sleep with his whole top half of his body hanging off the bed while he snores.

"Jay!" She yelled and He jump making himself fall off the bed. She bent over in laughter while he sat up with a attitude. "I could have broken neck with yo dumb ass, I'm telling mom on you." She gasped playfully. "And if you do I'm telling dad you up here cussing at him." She sassed back rolling her neck, snapping her fingers and popping her hip out for A dramatic effect.

"Yeah then he gonna beat yo ass for acting all grown."

"technically I am grown but go off," She laughed in his face before he slammed his door in her face, clearly with an attitude.

She giggled as she walked down the hallway and into her other brothers room. Noah.

"Wassup Noah whatcha doing?" She sang while swinging back and forth on his door frame, happy to see her big brother. Noah and Israel had a good relationship. they were the closest out of the four sibling. they always has been since they were young.

"Nothing just minding my business why don't you try it?"

"Oh wooooow that's how you gonna treat your favorite little sister?" She asked as she grabbed the little pink bouncy ball that he kept on his dest, throwing it into the air.

"You're my only little sister..." she rolled her eyes at his comments and threw the ball at him before feeling it comeback at her full Force, hitting her on the side of her neck with a loud smack.

"Ouch Noah! Why would you throw it that hard?"  He chuckled leaning back in his desk chair with his pin in between his teeth. "Why'd you throw it in the first place?" She rolled her eyes "whatever, can we go somewhere? Like I wanna leave outta this house without mom and dad questioning everything little thing about my whereabouts and I can only do that with you so let's go somewhere before dinner starts and dad comes home," As if on cue they heard the front door shut hardly make the house shake a bit. Her plans crumbled to the ground. She signed out of annoyance And Noah laughed at her disappointment. "Maybe next time Izzy." He patted her head and got up from his chair once he heard his mom call for her children to come to dinner.

-

Israel was the last one to come down for dinner because she just wasn't really feeling like it. But of coarse her father demanded that she comes down and eat with the rest of the family.

"I don't get a cheerful 'hi daddy' when I come home anymore? You too grown now?" Issac- her father asked, picking up a fork full of rice eating it aggregately, like he haven't eaten all week.

"No I just- I'm sorry. Hi daddy..." she stumbled on her words, nervously, like she always did when her father would ask direct questions and comments to her.

"I hear you got your diploma today...good job." It wasn't a 'I'm proud of you baby girl' or a congratulations but she didn't expect her father to congratulate her. She never did because he's never done that to her before or to any of her brothers. Once her mother asked him why he didn't ever congratulate their children and his reply was 'why would I congratulate them for something that their supposed to get? I expect them to get good grades and I expect them to graduate college.'

Israel snapped her head towards her father when he called her name snapping her out of her daydream.

"Me and your mother found a online college and they have exactly what you want to major in graphic design, special editing all that shit, so you can 'go' to college but be home every night." Israel drop her fork, her face scrunched up in confusion from the new information. She looked at her mother but her eyes were glued to her plate.

"I already know what school I'm going to so that wasn't really necessary dad..." she hissed locking her eyes on her father then to her mothers head. If looks could kill her mother would be dead by now.

"I don't like that school it's all the way across the State. You're living in my house you're my child so you'll do what I say, End of discussion." Israel huff air out of her mouth trying to calm herself down before she said something to her father that she'll regret. "I don't understand why I just can't go to g-" her father slammed his hands down on the dining room table feed up with her whining. "I said end of discussion. Ion know who the fuck You think you talking to lil girl, but I'll show you real fast who the fuck runs this house" he barked at her pointing his spoon in her Direction.

"Issac please," Isabel whispered to her angered husband placing her hand on his arm. His head snapped towards her and gripped her chin. "Stay in your place Isabel. I wasn't speaking to you." He release her and went back to his food in front of him, looking at Israel as if daring her to say a another thing. Isabel sent Israel an apologetic look and Israel flicker her eyes to her mom then back down to her lap.

Her brothers throw daggers at their father with their eyes, not liking the way he was speaking to Isabel or Israel, but didn't dare stand up and say anything.

Israel sat quietly, looking down at her untouched food. Her appetite was lost and her mind was clouded with anger and sadness. The freedom she thought she was finally going to have after being trapped in the house for 18 years was snatch away by her father.

"ether stop that fucking whining or go to your room" he snapped, scolding her like she was a ten year old child.

She pushed her chair away from the table and excused herself before dashing up the stairs, feeling tears in the corners of her eyes.

She slammed her door shut and grabbed her phone from her night stand and called her older cousin- Jasmine.

It rang and rang until she finally heard her cheerful voice over the phone. "Hey what's up sis!" she sang into the phone.

"My dad is really trying to ruin  my life..." Israel hissed into the phone and then the renting began.

-

"Oh hell no. how is he going to tell you what college you're going to go to?! This is your future your life! He can't make this decision for you I don't care if he your father." Jasmine yelled pacing around Israels room back-and-forth. "I tried to tell him that but he refuses to listen! It's like talking to a brick wall." Israel spoke sadly, trying hard to stop her voice from cracking. She gulped harshly, trying to Swallow the lump in her throat.

"Aw don't cry Izzy, you're gonna make me cry and you know how ugly I look crying..." Jasmine said putting on a dramatic pout making Israel choke up a laugh.

"Yeah...don't cry..." Israel laughed sadly. Jasmine bite her lip and patted her back trying to console her as more tears fall from her eyes. She covered her face with her hands, letting a sob that's she's been holding in all day.

"I'm sorry I just don't know what I'm going to do, they control everything I do. I'm eighteen and can't even go to the drugstore with them questioning when I'm going to be back. Honestly there was no point in even buying me that car if I can't even drive it?" She sighed shaking her head.

"I can't take it anymore, they're driving me crazy I just want to get away from them for a day without calling me all day." Jasmine gasped as I lightbulb went off in her head. "Oh my gosh tomorrow night my best friend jade is throwing a house party you should come with me it would be so fun Izzy!" She bounced on Israel's bed clapping her hands like a mad women.

"Tuh And you think my parents are going to let me go there?" Israel slumped down into her bean bag choir rolling her eye like jasmine was crazy to any think her parents would allow that after everything she just told her they be bugging. "Duh that's why we're gonna sneak you outta of the house-" her phone buzz and she hopped us from the bed. "Uh my man just texted me that he wanna see me so...I gotta go but be ready for me to pick you up by 8:30. We're gonna get ready at my house."

"Wait since when do you have a man?" She yelled to her before she left out of her room.

"Oh he's not my man man but he will be soon!" Israel rolled her eyes laughing at her crazy cousin.

"Bye see you tomorrow night"

"Yeah we'll see." She said closing her bedroom door as jasmine let herself out.

Israel plot on her bed with a sigh. "Shit"

__________________

So sorry if the is all over the place lol I tried my best and I had fun writing this and that's all that matters lol. -

[hatsampixie]

“Not much has been going on at the base, Isabelle and Nick blabbing their mouths, Night Soldier sending some evil apprentices out on missions... The only thing that’s really ‘different’ is Lucky... He’s actually been a lot more quiet lately... Meh, better than him being the brat that he is.” Rocky said as they headed towards the base.

“Yeah.. Again, at least Night Soldier’s got a healer.” Mandimatronic said..

[bytheangell]

This is the Coda that Never Ends... Part 6

Read on AO3 Read from the start

Luke never stopped looking out for Clary. She’s practically his daughter in all but name and he remembers that feeling of whiplash going from listening to Maryse tell him that Clary supports the two of them being together (the idea that Clary would welcome Maryse into the little family they created for themselves after Jocelyn’s passing one of the reasons he’s positive taking a chance with Maryse was a good call)  to the sudden news later on that Clary’s knowledge of the Shadow World is gone. It was the highest high to the lowest of lows, the heartbreak he felt (and still feels) over the realization that he couldn’t keep in contact with her, not the way he wanted to, without putting her in jeopardy so strong he debates leaving it all behind just to stay with her. He'd give it all up - the life as a Shadowhunter, as a human, he only just regained - for her sake if it came down to it, but even that was deemed too much of a risk.

Keeping watch at a distance this last year is probably the most difficult thing he’s ever had to do.

But he never stopped watching. And neither did Maryse, who’s the one who often goes to Clary’s shows and offers words of praise and encouragement in person. Clary and Maryse hadn’t been particularly close which makes her the perfect person to actually be there from time to time. Mundane. No strong personal history. She can be present without being noticed and is unlikely to stir up any strong memories or feelings in Clary, so it makes him feel better to know she can say a few of the things he wishes he could say himself; to be there when he can’t be.

So when Maryse goes to Clary’s exhibit and sees the artwork, quickly catching on to how much of it is reflective of moments and places Clary once knew from the Shadow World, she tells Luke immediately. He knows something's up when she arrives home and doesn't so much as say hello or stop to take her heels off, and entirely bypasses his lean-in for a kiss. When Maryse has something on her mind she develops a singular sort of focus that he's always loved and admired about her. 

“I’d know that image anywhere, Lucian, abstract or not.” Maryse says with finality, showing him the photos she took on her phone. “That’s Alec and Magnus’ wedding. And this one-” she scrolls. “I’m positive that’s the stained glass at the Institute-” another swipe of her finger, “-and you can just make out the shape of runes in the patterns of those background swirls in this one.”

“This is how it happened just before she turned 18, too. Her memories came through her art and she had no idea they meant anything other than things she dreamed up to draw.” He frowns. “I didn’t talk to her before it was too late the last time. I can’t make that same mistake twice.”

Even as he says the words, he hesitates.

There was never any formal rule banning them from having contact with Clary. The Clave, however, made it very clear that it would be highly advisable not to go against the will of the Angels. The caution to keep their distance isn’t just for their own sakes, but for Clary’s who is more likely to have her memories resurface if they’re all around. The Angels could’ve simply de-runed her, but instead they took her sight - and her memories of this life - presumably for a reason. The Angels clearly do not want Clary to be part of this world in any capacity, even by association. They all talked about it at length... It wasn’t an easy agreement to come to; in fact, the discussion became so heated at points that Luke wasn’t sure they would all come out of in on speaking terms.

But in the end they had, even if it took some of them the better part of this last year to adjust to life without her. Even if some of them, like Luke, are still adjusting and likely always will be… unless what Maryse says is right, and Clary’s remembering on her own again.

“She’ come looking for me if she was…” Luke says, trying not to sound too hopeful. “If Clary started to remember I should be one of the first people she’d seek out.”

“Would she be able to find you?” Maryse points out, and his stomach drops. He isn’t with the police anymore and he moved in with Maryse a few months back. The Jade Wolf is closed down and there’s nothing tying him to his old life left to turn to.

“She’d go to the station,” he realizes. “I’ll have to check in there, see if she’s been by. I think I still have a contact or two there I can utilise.”

Luke wants to go see her but the exhibition is already over and it’s late. He can’t go sneaking around the art school’s campus in the dead of night without raising suspicion, and while he’s certainly tempted to give it a shot anyway he’s able to be rational enough about all of this to know that’s a bad idea.

They shelve the conversation for the remainder of the night, deciding to bring it up to Isabelle tomorrow. Maybe. If they decide to bring it up to anyone at all. He has a meeting with Isabelle at the Institute the next afternoon so it’d be easy enough, but he doesn’t want to make a big deal out of this if it ends up being nothing. He also isn’t sure he wants Isabelle to know if it isn’t nothing - she’s the Head of the Institute, and that comes with certain obligations… like reporting something like this to the Clave. He doesn’t think that’s the sort of person that Isabelle is, but one can never tell how these sorts of positions can change people and she hasn’t been there long enough for him to be certain this wouldn’t reach the wrong set of ears.

So the next morning Luke decides to check in on Clary himself before heading off to his meetings later in the day. He knows it’s a risk but he’s a professional. He’s trailed trained criminals before, surely he can stay out of sight of a teenage girl for an hour or two.

She’s sketching in the corner of Java Jones, which isn’t surprising, when he tracks her down. What is surprising is who else he finds there. Luke doesn’t see the warlock at first - his glamour is strong, even against other Downworlders with the sight - but Magnus drops the glamour while simultaneously grabbing Luke by the arm and pulling him out of the shop.

“What are you doing here?” They ask one another at the same time the moment they’re out on the sidewalk.

Luke doesn’t say a word, he only pulls up the photos that Maryse took the night before and watches the look on Magnus’ face turn from confused to a steadily deepening frown with each one he goes through.

“That’s my wedding-” Magnus says, almost in awe as much as in surprise. “This one is the Seelie Realm…” Magnus sucks in a sharp breath. “That’s Edom.”

“It’s all just beneath the surface. Maybe it’ll stay there, just enough to sense but not enough for her to actually remember?” Luke wonders out loud.

He almost hopes that’s the case because he doesn’t want Clary to come back into this life, this world, if it’s only to suffer for her past actions at the hands of the Angels. For all the good she did after coming into her powers, she suffered greatly for it. Luke loves her too much to selfishly wish that upon her again… it’s one of the reasons he agreed with the others to keep his distance in the end.

Which makes what Magnus tells him next extremely bittersweet.

“Well,” Magnus starts, deliberately slow. “I wasn’t supposed to tell anyone this, but since you’re pretty much on the exact same page we are…” Magnus stops again, considering his words carefully.

“What is it?” Luke asks, not entirely sure he wants to hear the answer. “What don’t I know?”

Magnus eyes luke one last time, almost as if he’s sizing him up. Luke tries not to take offense to the idea that Magnus doesn’t trust him implicitly, because he gets it. Politics and all that, secrets to keep, and not everyone can be ‘in the loop’... but this is different. This is Clary.

“Clary saw Jace through his glamour last night - she remembered his name. That’s why I’m here, just to check on her. I was supposed to see if it was just a one time thing, but if this isn’t the first part of her past that’s starting to push through…”

“Who else knows already?” Luke asks, immediately concerned that this is out of his control before he even gets the chance to help.

“More people than I’m comfortable with, honestly. But I was one of the last to know myself so I don’t really have room to talk. Jace told Simon, who told Isabelle, who told Alec, who told me. Oh, and Underhill knows, too.” Magnus pauses. “He better not go blabbing to Lorenzo or I swear I’ll--”

“Magnus, focus. Please.” Luke’s concern for Clary outweighs almost everything in his life, and this is potentially very serious.

“Sorry. That’s it. And now you… and Maryse, I suppose. I’m guessing there’s no way of convincing you to keep this from her, is there?”

Luke laughs. “I couldn’t if I tried. That woman reads me like she wrote the book these days. And if I don’t say something, you really think one of her kids won’t go to her soon enough?”

Magnus sighs, but smiles with a bit of fondness as he nods in agreement. “I get the feeling this isn’t the end of it, either. Especially if we all keep showing up around her like this. It’s too risky, we’re going to draw attention… myself included.”

“So what do you propose we do?” Luke demands. Magnus should know better than to think for a second that Luke will be willing to just walk away from this; he won’t walk away from Clary when there’s even the slightest chance she’ll need him.

“We back off again. Same as before. Watch from afar… that means no Jace sneaking around with his glamours, and no Maryse. Just until we get a better handle on where things stand,” Magnus suggests.

It makes sense, but that doesn’t mean Luke has to like it. “Alright,” he agrees with grudging reluctance. “But only if you promise to keep me updated if something happens this time.” “Of course,” Magnus starts, but falls silent after a look from Luke.

“Don’t ‘ of course ’ me, Magnus. If Maryse hadn't seen those painting you never would’ve told me about this, would you?”

Magnus at least has the decency to look guilty. “We would have, eventually. Apparently Alec and the others decided not to drag anyone else into this until they know exactly what this is. And I agreed.” It isn’t the answer Luke wants but he knows it’s the best he’s going to get.

“Now if you’ll excuse me, Lucian, I believe I have some art to purchase. Give Maryse my best.” And with that Magnus turns and disappears around the corner.

Eager to get out of there before Clary can come out and see him Luke turns to leave as well, but in the opposite direction, heading towards Ouroboros.