#shadowhunters beside still water

[soulofapatrick]

Domesticated - Jace Herondale x Female (Daylighter) Reader

Summary: this is a 5 + 1 of all the times you and Jace act like a couple even before you admit feelings for each other

Words: 6k

Warnings: injury, bleeding, blood drinking

Y/N’s POV - 

Part One

I’m not really sure when Jace appearing at random hours of the day in my apartment became a normal things. He’s dirty and covered in ichor from a demon hunt the Clave sent him and Alec on and he’s grumbling to himself as he shrugs off his leather jacket. There’s dried blood on him from wounds his iratze rune probably healed and he’s toeing off his shoes before grumbling more about the demons. 

“I’m going to shower.” He tells me, voice gruff but there’s a softness to it as he addresses me. 

“Alright Jace.” I respond, turning back to the show I was watching, waiting up for him to get back as it’s nearly 2am. Being a vampire is weird, especially a daylighter like Simon as at first I was nocturnal and now, suddenly, I’m back to daylight hours. It was weird getting used to humanity again but ever since Jace has been coming round it’s been easier somehow. 

As I listen to the sound of the water running in the bathroom, I can’t help but think about how effortlessly Jace fits into my life. We’ve been…friends? Yeah, friends for so long, and lately, it feels like we’ve crossed some invisible line into something more. But whenever I’m around him, my heart would be pounding if it could still beat and there’s a stirring in my undead soul, a flutter of excitement I though I had long forgotten. 

If it weren’t for Jace, I might have left the Shadowhunter world behind altogether, taken Magnus up on whisking me somewhere far away, maybe Canada, Clary and Simon, my own best friends, seem to have forgotten about me again, lost in their own adventures and relationship. And Luke, the only parental figure in my life, is more invested in his pack than checking up on me. But somehow, Jace always manages to find his way back to my doorstep, like a guiding light in the darkness. 

I remember the first time he appeared on my doorstep, how he looked at me with those piercing golden eyes and saw something in me that no one else seemed to. He didn’t treat me like a monster or a freak because of what I had become, but instead, he saw me for who I truly am—a creature worthy of love and friendship.

And now, sitting here on the couch, waiting for him to remerge from the bathroom, I can’t help but wonder how the hell we ended up here in this weird dance and routine, so domesticated. One moment we’re battling demons and next, we’re lounging on the couch like a couple of teenagers on a lazy Sunday afternoon. 

Finally, after what feel like an eternity, Jace remerges from the bathroom, looking surprisingly innocent and boyish in a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a graphic tee-shirt that I’m pretty sure is either mine or my brothers. His hair is still damp from the shower, tousled in a way that makes him look disarmingly handsome. Despite the exhaustion tech into his features, there’s a spark in his golden eyes that never fails to draw me in. 

Jace collapses onto the couch beside me, his head finding its place on my shoulder, it feels like the most natural thing in the world. His weight against me is comforting, like an anchor tethering me to reality amidst the chaos of our lives. I close my eyes, revelling in the warmth of his presence and the steady rhythm of his breath against my skin.

As exhaustion finally catches up to him, his breathing evens out, lulling me into a sense of peace. I listen to the sound of his steady inhales and exhales, a gentle melody that soothes my restless mind. And as I drift off into sleep, I'm enveloped in the cocoon of his scent—sunshine and something uniquely Jace, mixed with the subtle fragrance of my shower products. It's a comforting aroma, one that fills me with a sense of belonging and contentment.

In the depths of slumber, I feel his warmth beside me, a constant presence that eases my fears and worries. But when I wake in the morning, he's gone, leaving behind only a hastily scrawled note on my coffee table. My heart sinks as I read his words, explaining that Alec called him in early for paperwork and debriefing on the previous day's hunt.

Despite the pang of disappointment at his absence, I can't help but smile at the thought of him, out there in the world, fighting alongside his fellow Shadowhunters. And as I rise to start the day, I carry with me the memory of his presence, the echo of his warmth lingering in the air like a promise of his return.

Part Two

I awake to a crashing and the grumbled cry of Jace, my panic immediately vanishing at the sound of his voice. My phone reads 7.03pm and I’m realising my nap was longer than I had planned or anticipated, having tried to stay awake for Jace who had messaged me to say he’d be home in time for dinner. 

As I groggily process the situation, something within me stirs at the realisation Jace used the word “home” to describe my place. It’s a simple word, but coming from him, it carries a weight that sends a flutter through my un-beating heart. I push aside the covers and pull myself sleepy from bed, feeling the fabric of a shirt that definitely isn’t mine brush against my skin as it reaches mid-thigh. 

Shuffling towards the kitchen, I’m met with the sight and smell of chaos. Jace is in the midst of a culinary disaster, his brow furrowed in frustration as he grumbles to himself. The scent of burning food fills the air, assaulting my sensitive vampire senses, But despite the mess and the mishap, there’s something oddly endearing about the scene—the way Jace is so determined to make dinner for us, even if it means nothing is going according to plan. 

As I approach him, I can’t help but smile at the sight of him, his hir tousled and his expression a mix of annoyance and determination. Despite the chaos, there a sense of warmth and familiarity in the air, a feeling of him that I’ve come to associate with him. 

I head straight for the fridge to grab fresh ingredients as soon as I get the gist of what he was trying to make by the minced meat and the spaghetti, catching the way he looks at me. There’s a softness in his gaze, a silent appreciation for my presence and the way I effortlessly step in to salvage the situation. But when I reach for the pasta sauce, Jace stops me, holding up a jar of red liquid. 

My heart tries to burst out of my chest when I realise what it is. Jace wasn’t just trying to make dinner for us; he was trying to recreate a meal I loved as a human, altered for my now vampire self. It’s a small gesture, but it speaks volumes about his thoughtfulness and the depth of his care for me. 

“Raphael said it was the best of the best and told me how to prepare it so it doesn’t…” Jace waves his hands around trying to think of the word Raphael used, “Separate?” 

I can’t help but laugh softly at the face Jace makes as he says the word ‘separate’. It’s moments like these that remind me of just how endearing he can be, even when he’s trying his best to navigate unfamiliar territory like helping a vampire like me. 

Stepping closer to him, I wrap my arms around him in a hug, feeling the tension in his muscles as he hesitates before finally relaxing enough to return the embrace. His strong arms wrap around me, pulling me close as he buries his face in my hair. In the moment, with the scent of blood and spices lingering in the air and the warmth of Jace’s embrace surrounding me, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude and love for the man standing in front of me. 

Reluctantly, Jace finally lets me go, suggesting we try cooking again. As I try to assist him, he’s suddenly spinning me back to face and him and gripping my waist in his strong hands, lifting me and sitting me on a clean area of the counter top, “You’re to just sit there and look pretty while I work this out.” He says with a smirk, a hint of redness colouring his cheeks. 

I can’t help but let out the most embarrassing giggle at his sudden shyness, feeling a warmth spread through me at his playfulness. As I watch him move around the pitch with practiced ease, a sense of contentment washes over me. Despite the chaos and mishaps, being here with Jace feels like home. 

And as I sit on the counter, watching him cook, I cant’t help but feel grateful for moments like these—simple, ordinary, mundane moments that remind me of what I could have had when human. Surrounded by the warmth and aroma of our makeshift meal and Jace’s soft humming as he cooks, I know that no matter what challenges may come our way, as long as we have each other, we'll always find a way to make it through.

Part Three

The library is quiet as I slip inside, the familiar scent of old books and parchment greeting me like an old friend. Alec had given me permission to use the Institute as a safe haven whenever I like, and I often find myself wandering towards the library. It’s become my sanctuary, a place where I can escape the weird world I’m now a part of and lose myself in the pages of novels and histories. 

As I roam the aisles, my fingers trailing along the spines of countless books, I feel a sense of calm wash over me. The library is a treasure trove of knowledge, and I’ve made it my mission to learn as much as I can about the Shadowhunter world. I immerse myself in the histories of the Clave, learning about the battles fought and the heroes who rose to prominence, the history of the main families in this world. 

Eventually, I pick a book off the shelves, one that Alec had actually recommended to me during one of our conversations. It’s a thick volume filled with tales of Shadowhunter lore, and I can’t wait to delve into its pages. With a contented sigh, I sink into one of the soft loveseats scattered throughout the massive library, feeling eh weight of the book in my hands as I lose myself in the pages. 

For the rest of the afternoon, I’m lost in a world of magic and mystery, my surroundings fading away as I become immersed in the story unfolding before me. The hours pass in a blur, but in the moment, surrounded by the knowledge and history of the Shadowhunters, I feel a sense of belonging and purpose that I’ve been searching for since the day I was turned. 

My attention is momentarily drawn away from the pages of the book in my hand by the faint murmur of voices approaching. It takes a moment but I’m recognising the voices, the cadence of their speech familiar to me even from a distance with my new hearing abilities. But it’s the sound of the library door opening that truly captures my attention, and when I look up, my heart skips a beat at the sight of a familiar blonde figure standing in the doorway. 

Jace. 

His golden eyes scan the room, searching, until they land on me. A smile spreads across his face, lighting up his features in a way that never fails to make my heart flutter like it’s still beating, “There you are, Mouse,” He greets, using the stupid pet name he’s decided for me, “You weren’t at home.” 

As he strides over, my attention is captivated by the way his muscles ripple beneath the fabric of his tight black shirt, each movement a testament to his strength and grace. My pulse would be skyrocketing if it could, and I can feel a flush from the recent blood I drank creeping its way up my neck as he stops in front of me, his presence commanding and magnetic. 

“Hey Jace,” I manage to say, voice betraying the flutters of excitement I feel within me. 

He smirks, golden eyes dancing with amusement as if he knows what he’s doing to me, “What were you doing here all alone?” He asks, tone teasing yet filled with genuine curiosity. 

I just shrug, attempting to maintain an air of casualness despite the turmoil of emotions swirling within me, “Just needed the quiet.” I reply, my voice soft. 

He nods in understanding, his expression softening as he reaches out to gently tuck a strand of hair behind my ear. The simple gesture sending a shiver down my spine, igniting a rush of sensations that I struggle to contain. His proximity, his touch—it's all too much, and yet not enough.

“Hey, listen,” He says, his voice warm and inviting, “We’re all heading to the Hunter’s Moon to hear Simon sing, You wanna join us?” 

The thought of being surrounded by so many voices, sounds and smells—the overwhelming sensory overload—has me shuddering involuntarily. I feel a knot form in my stomach, a wave of anxiety washing over me at the mere thought of venturing out into the bustling world beyond the quiet of the Institute currently. 

With a shaky breath, I shake my head almost aggressively, “No, I think I’ll pass.” I reply, my voice barely above a whisper, “I’m… I’m not really in the mood for crowds tonight.” 

Jace nods in understanding, his expression sympathetic, “Hey, that’s okay,” He reassures me, his voice gentle, and he’s surprising me by leaning down and pressing a soft kiss to my cheek, “You do what feels right for you. But if you ever change your mind, we’ll be there.” 

I offer him a weak smile, grateful for his understanding, “Thanks Sunshine.” I murmur, the weight of my anxiety slowly easing with his words of reassurance and his sweet actions. 

As Jace turns to leave, I watch him go, feeling a sense of longing wash over me like a gentle tide. His departure leaves an ache in my chest, a yearning for something more, something I can't quite name. But then, I feel the lingering warmth of his kiss on my cheek, a fleeting touch that sends a jolt of electricity through me.

Despite my reluctance to join them, a part of me wishes I could be there, sharing in the camaraderie and laughter with Jace and the others. The thought of being by his side, laughing and joking like we always do, fills me with a bittersweet longing. 

In the moment, as I sit alone in the quiet solitude of the library, the whole interaction feels strangely domesticated, as if it’s something we’ve done a thousand times before. Jace’s kiss was casual yet intimate, like it was a natural extension of our friendship, and yet it leaves me yearning for more. 

I can’t help but replay the moment in my mind, the sensation of his lips against my cold skin, the warmth of his touch. It’s a memory I want to hold onto, to savour and cherish, and yet it only serves to deepen my desire for him. 

As I sink back into the soft cushions of the loveseat, the ache in my chest lingers, a constant reminder of the feelings I can’t shake. I want him to kiss me again, to make me feel alive in a way I never thought possible. And as I close my eyes and let out a heavy sigh, I know that despite the risks and uncertainties, I can't deny the pull he has on my undead heart.

Part Four

I honestly have no idea how I ended up in the training room with Jace but I definitely know how I ended up on my ass glaring up at his laughing figure. Jace decided that he was going to teach me how to defend myself as Alec wants downworlders to help Shadowhunters on patrols to bridge the gap that had formed since Valentine. 

So here I am, climbing to my feet and glaring at Jace who readies himself for another round and my body is already aching. Jace is already readying himself for another round, and I steel myself for the onslaught, determined to at least make him break a sweat. As he lunges at me, I use my vampire speed to dodge and jab him in the back with my elbow with precision. But before I can revel in the small victory, he’s already spinning around and swiping my feet out from underneath me again. 

I hit the ground with a frustrated grunt, the air would have been knocked out of me if I were still breathing. I let out a sound of pure annoyance as I lie there, staring up at the ceiling, feeling so goddamn angry that I haven’t managed to get Jace down once. 

“Come on, Mouse,” Jace says, offering me a hand up, “You’re getting better, I promise.” 

I take his hand and pull myself to my feet yet again, but the weight of defeat still hangs heavy on my shoulders. No matter how hard I try, I can't seem to measure up to Jace's level of skill and agility. It's frustrating, disheartening even, to constantly fall short despite my best efforts.

With a heavy sigh, I get back into position, expecting Jace to do the same but instead a small gasp is drawn from me when I feel his body practically pressed to my back as he adjusts my positioning. I feel a rush of warmth as he nudges my feet into a better position and adjusts my arms, guiding them a little higher. 

His touch is firm yet gentle, his hands moving with practiced precision as he adjusts my stance. And then, his hands fall to my hips, twisting them slightly to improve my balance before he steps back, satisfied with his work. 

I’m left standing there, the lingering sensations of his touch sending a shiver down my spine. Despite the lack of a heartbeat or any physical sensations, I can’t deny the way he makes me feel. Safe. Protected. As if, just for a moment, the weight of the world is lifted from my shoulders and I can simply be. 

With a renewed determination, I square my shoulder and focus on the task at hand. As we being sparring again, I find myself moving with a newfound confidence, each strike more precise than the last. And then, miraculously, it happens—I actually manage to get Jace down for once. 

I just watch in disbelief as he hits the ground, a surprised laugh escaping him as he looks up at me with sparkling eyes. In the moment, his laughter is like music to y ears, lighthearted. As Jace lies there, sprawled on the ground with a grin that could light up the room, I can't help but feel a rush of exhilaration. His boyish charm and playful energy are infectious, making me forget for a moment that we're supposed to be training. But as he starts to rise, that cocky smirk forming on his lips, I know the challenge isn't over yet.

With a twinkle in his eyes, he beckons me forward, goading me to try again. His confidence is palpable, almost tangible in the air between us. And I, of course, take the bait, eager to prove myself once more. 

But, as I unleash my vampire strength and speed, throwing my self into the spar with all I’ve got, I quickly realise that Jace has activated both runes, his agility now matching mine. His speed rune makes him a formidable opponent, dodging and waving with ease, always one step ahead. 

In the blink of an eye, he’s behind me, sweeping my feet out from under me with a swift motion. I feel the ground rushing up to meet me, but my reflexes kick in instinctively. As I tumble backwards, I grab onto Jace’s shirt, pulling him down with me. 

We land in a tangled heap, laughter bubbling up between us as we lie there, catching our breath. For a moment, time seems to stand still, the world around us fading away until it's just the two of us, tangled together on the ground. I can smell how sweet and like sunshine Jace’s blood smells in his veins and feel the way his heart is pounding as he buries his face in my neck. 

And in the moment, I realise just how much I enjoy being with him, the easy camaraderie and undeniable chemistry between us, making me, again, realise just how domesticated we are with each other. 

Part Five

The rain is coming down so hard it’s bordering on hail and as overwhelming as my senses are, the sound of it hitting the windows of my apartment is actually very comforting. Jace is in the shower again, coming back from another demon nest hunt and he’s told me he ordered pizzas on his way home as he invited the others around to jin us for the movie night before he jumped in the shower. 

As grateful as I am for his presence, a flicker of anxiety creeps into my mind at the thought of the others joining us. Alec and Magnus have always been welcoming, their easygoing nature together putting me at ease from the start. But Simon and Clary, lost in their own bubble of love, often seem oblivious to anyone around them nowadays, especially me their childhood friend. And Izzy.. well, Izzy can get anyone she wants with a bat of her eyelashes has me a little jealous. 

As I wait for Jace to emerge from the shower, the sound of the rain drumming against the window grows louder, echoing the turmoil of my thoughts. I find myself questioning whether I’ll be able to navigate the dynamics of the evening, whether I’ll be able to hold my own amidst the company of the Shadowhunters and Downworlders that make up Jace’s inner circle. 

But then, as if sensing my apprehension, Jace appears, a towel draped casually around his waist and a smile lighting up his face. It’s as if time itself pauses for a moment, allowing me to drink in the sight before me. His presence is like a beacon of light in the dimly lit apartment, his golden eyes sparkling with warmth and mischief. With his damp hair tousled and his skin glistening with droplets of water, he looks every bit like an adonis, a vision of strength and beauty. 

The towel draped casually around his waist hangs dangerously low, teasingly revealing the beginnings of his happy trail. My gaze is drawn to the tantalising glimpse of skin, the curve of his hips, the sculptured muscles of his abdomen. It's a sight that leaves me breathless, a reminder of just how effortlessly attractive he is.

But it's not just his physical appearance that captivates me; it's the way he carries himself, with a confidence that borders on arrogance yet somehow remains endearing. His smile is like a beacon of warmth, infectious and irresistible, drawing me closer with its magnetic pull.

As he moves closer, the scent of his shower gel fills the air, a heady mixture of musk and citrus that sends a shiver down my spine. I find myself mesmerised by the play of light and shadow on his skin, the way the droplets of water cling to his body like liquid diamonds. He brushes a gentle kiss against my cheek, his touch reassuring in its familiarity, a warmth spreading through me, soothing the lingering traces of anxiety that had gripped me moments before. His touch is a familiar reassurance, grounding me to the present moment and easing the flutter of my nonexistent heartbeat. 

But before I can fully lose myself in the intimacy of the moment, a sharp knock at the door interrupts us, shattering the fragile bubble of privacy we’ve created. With a playful smack to Jace’s arm I stop him from heading to the door, “Go get some damn clothes on, I’ll answer it.” Before I’m striding over to answer the door, cheeks flushed with a heat that most likely betrays the intensity of my emotions. 

As I swing the door open, Jace is ducking into our room and I’m met with the amused gazes of Alec and Magnus, their eyebrows raised in teasing curiosity. Magnus’ playful smirk hints at the mischief dancing in his eyes, while Alec's expression is a mix of amusement and affection. 

Despite my embarrassment at being caught in such a vulnerable moment, I can't help but smile at the sight of them. Their presence is like a ray of sunshine breaking through the clouds, casting a warm glow over the room and dispelling the tension that had threatened to linger.

Suppressing the urge to bury my burning cheeks in my hands, I offer them a sheepish grin, knowing they heard what I said through the door, hoping to deflect their teasing with a lighthearted remark. But as Magnus's eyebrow quirks suggestively, I know that my attempt at nonchalance has fallen short. So, with a sigh of resignation, I step aside to let them in, knowing that there's no use in trying to hide the flush that still colours my cheeks

As I step aside to let them in, Alec hands me a DVD with a knowing smile. I can’t help bit roll my eyes fondly at his choice—Dracula. It’s become somewhat of an inside joke between me and Jace so I just know Jace told him to bring it. But before I have a chance to protest, Magnus is interjecting, his tone unreadable as he tells me “I’m afraid the others won’t be joining us tonight,” 

But Magnus’ words cut through the light-hearted banter, his tone carrying an unexpected weight as he informs me of the absence of our other friends. A pang of disappointment courses through me, a subtle ache in my chest as I realise that Clary and Simon won't be joining us tonight. They were more than just friends—they were my childhood companions, the ones who had been there through thick and thin. Their absence feels like a tangible loss, a reminder of how much our lives have changed since those carefree days of youth.

As I put the DVD in and get it ready, sinking into the couch with a heavy heart, I can't help but feel a sense of longing for the comfort of their presence. But I push aside those feelings, focusing instead on the company of Alec and Magnus, who have become like family to me in their own right. 

I sink into the cushions, allowing Alec and Magnus to take the other couch as we wait for Jace to return with the pizzas. Despite the disappointment lingering in the air, there's a quiet camaraderie between us, a shared understanding that in times of need, we can always rely on each other.

As the anticipation of Jace's return hangs in the air, the sound of the door opening signals his arrival. He appears just in time to answer the door, a grin spreading across his face as he enters with pizzas in hand. The sight of him brings a flicker of warmth to my heart, dispelling the lingering disappointment of our missing friends. 

Jace sets the pizzas down on the table with a flourish, his presence injecting a sense of energy into the room. With a casual ease, he joins us on the couch, seamlessly sliding in beside me. Without a second thought, he wraps an arm around my shoulders, pulling me snugly into his side. The gesture both  comforting and familiar, a silent reassurance of his affection for me. I lean into his embrace, feeling the warmth of his body against mine as he adjusts the blanket to cover us both. It's a simple act, but it speaks volumes about the bond we share—a bond that transcends words and barriers, connecting us on a deeper level.

With the remote in hand, Jace settles back against the cushions, his gaze fixed on the screen as he starts the movie. As the opening credits roll, I feel a sense of contentment wash over me, grateful for the warmth of Jace's embrace and the company of friends who feel like family.

Despite the disappointments and challenges we may face, in this moment, surrounded by laughter and love, I know that we'll always have each other. And as we lose ourselves in the world of Dracula, I find solace in the simple pleasures of friendship and companionship, knowing that no matter what the future may hold, we'll face it together, as a team.

Plus One

I’m not really sure how it happened but one moment I’m walking home from a day at the coffee shop and the next I’m being thrown into a wall. A wave of disorientating pain washes over me, leaving me gasping for breath and struggling to make sense eo what just happened. My sense reel, the world spinning in a dizzying blur as I try to focus on what just hit me. 

For a terrifying moment, I’m convinced that this is it—that I’m facing my end, torn to shreds by whatever unseen force assaulted me. Panic claws at the edges of my consciousness, threatening to consume me as I brace for the final blow. 

But then, as suddenly as it began, the assault ceases, leaving me trembling and shaken in its wake, unable to heal as I’ve lost too much blood. Slowly, I stagger to my feet, the world still spinning around me as I struggle to regain my bearings.The realisation that I’ve lost too much blood to heal hits me like a physical blow, leaving me lightheaded and unsteady. Every step is a battle against the dizziness and weakness that threatens to overwhelm me, but I push forward with grim determination. 

With each faltering step, the distance to the institute feels impossibly far, unable to use vampire speed without passing out. Panic sets in as I realise that Jace, my lifeline, is at the Institute today, and he hasn’t called to tell me he’s on his way home. Fear grips me like a vice, squeezing the breath from my lungs as I struggle to keep moving forwards. 

The world around me blurs as I stumble out of the alleyway and into the desired streets. My vision swims, the darkness closing in around me as I fight to stay conscious. Each breath is a struggle, my lungs burning with exertion as I push my body beyond its limits. 

Time loses all meaning as I continue to trudge forwards my footsteps echoing in the empty silence of the night. The Institute looms in the distance like a beacon of hope, its towering walls offering the promise of safety and sanctuary. But with each passing moment, it feels as though I'm slipping further and further away, teetering on the brink of unconsciousness.

Desperation claws at the edge of my consciousness as I force myself to keep moving, driven by the fear of what awaits me if I don’t reach the Institute in time. Every step is a battle against the darkness that threatens to engulf me, but I refuse to give up. 

With every ounce of strength I can muster, I push myself forward, determination fuelling my movements as I draw upon the last reserves of energy within me. As I approach the looming doors of the Institute, desperation spurs me to action, and I unleash the full force of my vampire speed. 

The doors fly open before me with a forceful momentum, swinging wide as if welcoming me home. But even as I breach the threshold, I trigger the wards surrounding the entrance, setting off alarms that echo through the empty halls. Before I can fully comprehend the situation, Jace appears before me, his weapon raised in a defensive stance. The sight of him, strong and unwavering, fills me with both relief and a sense of impending doom. I choke out his name, my voice barely a whisper as I struggle to remain upright. 

My knees give way beneath me, threatening to send me crashing to the unforgiving tiles below. But in the blink of an eye, Jace is there, his arms wrapping around me with lightning speed, catching me before I can hit the ground. The seraph blade clatters to the floor, forgotten in the urgency of the moment as Jace sinks us to the floor, cradling me in his arms, his eyes filled with concern and a hint of fear. I reach out to him, my fingers trembling as they brush against his cheek, a silent plea for reassurance. 

Despite my initial resistance, Jace's urgency is palpable, his wrist pressed insistently against my mouth as he pleads with me to drink. Fear courses through me as I shake my head, the thought of losing control terrifying me to the core. But as the scent of his blood fills my senses, a primal hunger takes hold, overpowering my rational thoughts. With a grip on my hair that borders on painful, Jace guides my mouth to the wound on his wrist, his other hand pressing against the back of my head. The taste of his blood is like nothing I've ever experienced before—warm and intoxicating, with a sweetness that rivals the warmth of the sun. 

As I drink, the fog that had clouded my mind begins to lift, clarity returning with each swallow. Guilt washes over me in waves, but I can't bring myself to stop. Jace's blood is a lifeline, grounding me in the present moment and soothing the ache of my wounds. I feed until I can feel the worst of the wounds stopping bleeding, my tongue lapping at the skin on Jace’s wrist to seal it shut. The taste of his blood lingering on my lips, a bittersweet taste. 

With a sigh of relief, I collapse against Jace's safe chest, my body trembling with exhaustion and relief. His touch is gentle yet firm, his hand cupping my jaw with a tenderness that tugs at my heartstrings. I feel his thumb under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his, and as I look into those golden eyes, I see the raw emotion reflected in their depths.

Tears glisten in his eyes, a silent testament to the fear and concern he's been harboring for me. His voice is soft as he checks if I'm okay, the sound of it like a soothing balm to my battered soul. In that moment, I realise just how much he cares, how deeply he feels, and the thought fills me with a warmth that transcends the physical. 

As he leans down, his lips ghosting over mine with a hesitance that speaks volumes, I can feel the tension building between us, a palpable electricity that crackles in the air. My heart would be hammering in my chest, a rhythm that matches the erratic beat of his own. A small whine escapes my throat, a sound born of longing and need, and in that instant, his resolve crumbles. His lips crash against mine with a fervour that steals my breath away, a kiss so full of passion and intensity that it leaves me reeling. 

In that moment, I feel alive in a way I never have before, as if every nerve in my body is on fire with the intensity of his touch. It's as if he's breathing life back into me with each caress of his lips, each touch igniting a fire that burns brighter than the sun. 

“Maybe don’t almost die to act upon mutual feelings.” Jace is mumbling against my lips, earning a weak smack from me. 

“Shut up.” 

“Make me.” He retorts, kissing me softly once again. 

“Later I will.” 

The Shadowhunters Masterlist TAG LIST - updated 21st Dec 2023

[eww-y-tho]

Every Single Thing I Have Ever Shipped!

Okay, let me be clear with a disclaimer that this has been throughout my entire life, and obviously, media targeted towards children that are mentioned are most definitely in the past.

I have them formatted with a small chunk of info as to why I ship/shipped them. I sorted them in order of how weird I think they are, from plain vanilla to the esoteric. I am also going to have a checkmark [✅] signifier that will indicate whether I've read fics for the ship or not.

This is a long one, so turn away while you still can, because "keep reading" will kill you unless you're actually invested, which, I don't know why you would be.

Also, this couldn't possibly be everything I have ever shipped. But it's as much as I could possibly think of.

Nick Nelson/Charlie Spring ✅

Heartstopper

I love these two, and even though I figured out most of the things about my sexuality before Heartopper graced my screen, Nick Nelson still had a very similar, albeit not identical, journey of discovery to mine, which makes me even more attached. 

Elle Argent/Tao Xu ✅

They are so adorable. I love what their relationship represents and their dynamic in the sense of their attachment to each other. Like most people, I think I got a bit frustrated on their first date scene, but it was understandable, so that’s just a small gripe I have.

Darcy Olsson/Tara Jones ✅

I already made a post talking about how I felt about the foil between Darcy and B*n, but my opinion boils down to ‘the girlboss is slaying despite her situation,’ and I think Tara is an amazing girlfriend for her and they genuinely made me cry.

Supernatural

Bridgerton

Colin Bridgerton/Penelope Featherington ✅

Bruh. Just look at my acc.

Dean Winchester/Castiel ✅

I could not be more late to Destiel and the queerbaiting was murderous, but I still love the ship. They also trigger my religious trauma sometimes but I never claimed to value my mental health, so yeah.

Samuel Winchester/Eileen Leahy ✅

C’mon, she was the only fit that I loved for Sam other than Jess. She could not be any cuter with him and I just think they’re adorable af. Another reason to hate 15x20.

Shadowhunters

Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood ✅

Are you joking? How could I watch this show and not ship it? They’ve made me straight-up sob on multiple occasions. The immortality thing does depress me, but I can live with it.

Simon Lewis/Isabelle Lightwood ✅

God, when I tell you this ship single-handedly revived my interest in the nerd/hot person trope I am not lying. They’re honestly too perfect for each other sometimes.

Lord of the Rings

Frodo Baggins/Samwise Gamgee

“Sam.” But meme aside, I was fighting tears by the end. Honestly, I love their dynamic as it is, but I could still see a romantic reading.

Aragorn/Arwen Und��miel

Fuck, they got me so invested it’s not even funny. I felt less attached to them than I could’ve been but I still loved the dynamic and rooted for them so much.

Star Wars

Anakin Skywalker/Padmé Amidala

I think everyone loves this ship as a tragedy to some degree, even if you hate the prequels. Plus Clone Wars just made me sad af all over again so they deserve a spot on the list.

Star Trek

James Kirk/Spock ✅

Okay, you got me, I never watched an ounce of Star Trek besides Spirk content. And even from a peripheral view knowing that Kirk is supposed to be a lady's man, they’re still gay beyond reason.

The Nanny

Fran Fine/Maxwell Sheffield

This show was my childhood, I think I started watching it with my family when I was under 10. Anyway, I feel like they were a slow burn done correctly. Wholesome as all hell, plus Fran is an amazing character and I love how she integrated herself into the family the right way.

C. C. Babcock/Niles

You cannot deny that the “I loathe you” kiss was perfect. They hated each other for so long, and I get the dislike of that aspect to the relationship, but they still made them believable without squashing their pre-established chemistry.

H20: Just Add Water

Cleo Sertori/Lewis McCartney

I cannot believe that Sea Change and the episode where Lewis left made me cry. I must’ve watched Sea Change like 50 million times because it was just peak cinema to me, but I couldn’t watch Lewis leaving again because it crushed my soul so violently. The moment when he came back with that sweeping camera motion made me audibly gasp and kick my legs. It was that bad. 

Rikki Chadwick/Zane Bennett

I’m really sad they didn’t work it out in the end, although I completely understand Rikki and I wouldn’t want to go back to Zayne myself. Although it did seem like Zayne was trying to make things right with her in the last episode? But Mako Mermaids didn’t show her with Zayne, so I’m inclined to believe they never made up.

Yuri On Ice

Yuri Katsuki/Victor Nikiforov ✅

When I tell you I fully screamed at the kiss scene AND the proposal, I am not lying. They were just the ship you freak out over, you know?

Yuri Plisetsky/Otabek Altin ✅

Welcome To The Madness made me open my third eye. I didn’t ship them before then, even though I did think they would be good together. 

Free!

Makoto Tachibana/Haruka Nanase ✅

This was my OTP ride-or-die for a solid year. I’m still very fond of the ship because I joined the fandom just when the war was ending so I didn’t experience a lot of toxicity.

Rei Ryugazaki/Nagisa Hazuki ✅

These two were perpetually second place, but I still adored the dynamic and was obsessed with two specific fics for ages.

Rin Matsuoka/Sousuke Yamazaki ✅

Is perpetually in third place. I’m not as invested in this ship, but a fic would get +5 points if it was a side pairing, you know? That vibe.

Kuroko No Basket

Tetsuya Kuroko/Taiga Kagami

I’ll be honest, I only like this ship by aesthetics alone, and I haven't seen enough of this show to really get into the fandom, because, you know, I dropped off of sports anime. I still like how they look, but I just don’t care about them enough.

Pirates of the Caribbean

Elizabeth Swann/Will Turner

Like, I don’t think I need to explain myself here. The sheer sexual energy present in this ship is suffocating. 

Hunger Games

Katniss Everdeen/Peeta Mallark ✅

Oh my god, where to begin? I love these two, they were my Bella and Edward if that comparison makes sense. Except for a better relationship in every single way, no biggie. Personally, that quote is a bit overused to explain their relationship, but it still made me shrivel into a prune.

Finnick Odair/Annie Cresta

The only person I would want Finnick with other than myself. They gave cute, wholesome, true love and just passed the vibe check with flying colours.

Merlin

Merlin/Arthur Pendragon ✅

Again, another ship I love even though I haven’t watched the source material. I do remember watching the ‘two hours of merthur scenes’ YouTube video a few years before I got into the fandom, so It’s been in my peripheral view for a while.

My Hero Academia

Izuku Midoriya/Bakugo Katsuki ✅

Oof, I don’t like MHA anymore because it was just too toxic, and this ship used to be the OTP after Free!, but like, it’s fallen in the ranks super hard. 

Shōta Aizawa/Hizashi Yamada ✅

They were the subtle one that I shipped because why wouldn’t you, you know? They were beyond cute in their scenes together, and I loved the perpetual teasing.

BTS

Jeon Jeongguk/Kim Taehyung ✅

My OTP for two years after MHA, I used to be pretty crazy about them. I realized that these were people and it started to feel gross so I fell off the ship pretty quickly after that.

Kim Seokjin/Kim Namjoon ✅

Again, my youthful mind just reduced them to mom and dad and I didn’t think about it until I got more into fandom politics.

Min Yoongi/Jung Hoseok/Park Jimin ✅

I would ship them in any configuration, I liked all of them, although I did have a preference for Yoonmin.

Dan and Phil

Daniel Howell/Philip Lester ✅

DON’T KILL ME, I WAS A TWEEN. I wasn’t insane about it, but I read some fics and watched ‘Moments That Hit Different’ videos once they both came out. I know they haven’t confirmed anything, and I am respectful of that. I still watch them and I’m glad they’re in a better place now. 

DC

Batman/Joker ✅

Judging by the posts I have already made, you can tell I’m very passionate about this one. But it’s honestly more of a guilty pleasure ship than anything else. I don’t like that I like them.

Harley Quinn/Poison Ivy ✅

They’re another story. Cuties indeed. I love them. I think their relationship is very interesting although it can also cross into toxic territory.

Telltale: Batman

Bruce Wayne/John Doe ✅

I’m singling these two out because they’re just unique from the rest of the ship in a way I can’t explain. Like… If normal Batjokes yearning levels were dialled up 10x more.

Marvel

Venom/Eddie Brock ✅

It’s just a hot ship, sorry. Not to mention their really weird relationship with each other and the fact that they HAVE CHILDREN. Plus I love the cute Venom blob fanart.

Peter Parker/Wade Wilson

I just think they’re an amazing dynamic, with the whole team-up comic and subsequent moments together.

Detroit: Become Human

Simon/Markus ✅

Even if the cut romance path with Simon is just a rumour, I feel like we were robbed of some great LGBTQ representation. “Our hearts are compatible” will make my heart clench to this day.

Hank Anderson/Connor ✅

Another one I’m not too proud of, in retrospect, although I still do see some romantic tones to the relationship. But the fics were great, not gonna lie.

Kara/Luther ✅

I love them in a found family way, but I can see them being together in a hypothetical future together in Canada scenario.

Tales of Zestiria

Sorey/Mikleo ✅

Boi, another ship I feel very strongly about. Objectively, they are canon and I’m going to continue to believe they are. I love their shared dream and I think the foundation of their relationship is very precious.

Rose/Alisha ✅

Super cute. They honestly feel stronger in The X, but the DLC did also make me ship them.

She-Ra

Catra/Adora ✅

I understand the arguments against this ship, that it’s kind of toxic and all that, but I just don’t care. They literally feel like soulmates and I just vibe with this dynamic. A perfect kiss, and a great ending.

Sailor Moon

Haruka Tenou/Michiru Kaiou

I only watched the first few episodes of the original Sailor Moon and the ending with my sister for my birthday, so this is another ship that I haven’t seen. But I still love them from what I’ve been exposed to and I hate that they were reduced to friends with the English dub.

Cardcaptor Sakura

Touya Kinomoto/Yukito Tsukishiro

Again, a peripheral ship where I didn’t watch or see Cardcaptor Sakura, but I mean, they’re adorable and canon. Not much else to say about it.

Attack On Titan

Ymir/Krista Lenz ✅

Let me break this down before everyone hates me. I love Ymir and Krista. Ymir was really the push she needed to become her own person and I love that arc. But I’m also a firm believer in bisexuality existing, headcanons are fine, and that it’s okay to move on from past loves.

Eren Yeager/Historia Reiss ✅

I was kind of cringe during this era, and I did think they were endgame, which is why the ending tainted my opinion of the show overall. I fell off the show pretty shortly after the manga finished. But sometimes I will revisit these two to torture myself for some reason. I’m sure Destiel and Merthur shippers can concur.

Erwin Smith/Levi Ackerman ✅

You know, I loved the fake Ackerman lore that Eren came up with because it was an interesting literary device and at least confirmed this ship slightly. They felt very gay in a weird way.

Armin Arlert/Annie Leonhart ✅

It’s funny, I shipped them before Annie was revived and fell off the ship once they became canon. It felt really strange, but the way the relationship played out felt just contrived and fake afterward.

Haikyu!

Hinata Shoyo/Kageyama Tobio ✅

Ya’ll, symbolism at its finest. I’m not sure what happened to their relationship after watching season 3, which is when I dropped the show because I lost interest in sports anime in general.

Daichi Sawamura/Koshi Sugawara ✅

Oof, another mom and dad ship that I appreciated a lot. It was another constant +5 if it was a side pairing in a fic.

Seraph Of The End

Mikaela Hyakuya/Yuichiro Hyakuya ✅

(For anyone that’s alarmed and doesn’t know, they’re not actually related.)  They’re very frustrating for me because they are so aesthetic, and they are honestly quite close to canon. But I just think there are certain aspects to the relationships that I don’t like, like Mika’s obsessive behaviours toward Yuu. Just reminds me of Eremika.

The Betrayal Knows My Name

Sakurai Giou/Luka Crosszeria

Okay, the one thing that I actually love about this ship is the reincarnation aspect to it because it really drives home how in love they are with each other. Yuki will always love Luka even if he doesn’t remember him, and Luka will love Yuki no matter what form he takes. Very deep.

God Of War: Ragnarok

Atreus/Angrboda ✅

I don’t understand why a lot of people didn’t like this relationship. They were very cute and gave me some Rapunzel/Flynn Rider vibes, especially in the very beginning. And I can see them in a very cute, mutually supportive romance.

Last Of Us Part 1

Ellie Williams/Riley Abel

I refuse to have my adolescence destroyed by part 2 after I saw the smallest clip of Joel dying, so I’m sticking to Left Behind. I was sobbing by the end of that DLC. Also, the show handled THAT scene perfectly. Loved it.

Last Of Us Part 2

(so. I decided to bite the bullet as soon as I wrote that. and I watched a playthrough.)

Ellie Williams/Dina

Okay. Listen. I would love it if they got back together in that theory with the bracelet. But I also see a poetic parallel to Tommy and Maria. Tommy kept disrespecting Maria and putting himself in danger, and it's clear that that's the main reason for them taking a break. There might be a chance to get back together, but it would take a lotta time.

My Little Pony

Fluttershy/Discord ✅

I am shooketh at the implications of the last episode. They were my favourite ship in MLP, and I am sad to share the cringe that I watched Bride and Daughter of Discord when that was around. But the whole paper bag thing during the epilogue made me implode, I’m so happy they ended up semi-canon.

Rainbow Dash/Apple Jack

They did have many moments that left me in a chokehold when I was in my older childhood years, but I fell off MLP for a solid 5 years before hearing the rumours on the grapevine that they became canon. And they are super close, you can tell.

Undertale

Undyne/Alphys ✅

These iconic chaotic lesbians made me squeal at Undyne’s cheek kiss in the end credits. I love practically every single one of their scenes together.

RG 1/RG 2 ✅

They literally made me blush during their boss fight. Raw dude bro love that turned into something more. Something deeper.

Lightning Point

Zoey/Kiki

I’m pretty sure no one in existence knows what this show is, but lemme tell you, Zoey and Kiki just gave me the vibe of an alien couple on a little adventure that gets trapped on Earth. I don’t remember the ending, but I do remember how cute they were. 

Life Is Strange

Chloe Price/Maxine Caulfield

Despite the bad rep this ship has gotten over the years, I would still sacrifice Arcadia Bay at any opportunity. Their kiss was truly a magical moment.

Stanley Parable

Narrator/Stanley

The Not Stanley ending still breaks my heart when I watch it, and Ultra Deluxe just expanded on their relationship so well. They give “I hate to love you and love to hate you” vibes.

Ace Attorney

Phoenix Wright/Miles Edgeworth ✅

Oh come on, anyone who doesn’t ship them confuses me. They have the backstory, they have the revealed, close relationship, and everybody acknowledges the subtext. This ship feels so similar to the Destiel situation rabbit hole, honestly. And it’s also incredibly frustrating.

Little Nightmares 2

Six/Mono

Kind of crazy, considering the end of the game, but I thought that their dynamic was very poetic and tragic. Personally, I don’t think that Six was malicious when she let go of Mono, I think she just recognized Mono was The Thin Man and wanted to prevent him from becoming himself in the future.

Mario

Bowser/Luigi ✅

I love how this ship exploded so quickly and I just love the duality of the ship. It’s either very good smut or the cutest diabetes-inducing sugary fluff.

Scream

Billy Loomis/Stu Macher

Textbook queercoding. I’m sorry, that back hug still makes me shiver. They truly felt threatening and scary which is an especially difficult emotion to get from me.

60 Parsecs

Baby Bronco/Emmet Ellis

I have Markiplier’s video of his playthrough of this game to thank for me shipping them. I couldn’t stop laughing when he was like ”You were elevated, de-elevated, ascended, descended, repeatedly.” He made me ship them so quickly it was actually insane.

Sims 4

Malcolm Landgraab/Cassandra Goth

It’s a weird ship that I found from someone else, but I do love the idea of a Romeo/Juliet situation with these two. Except that they’re both rich. And Malcom is an asshole. Who cares though, that can be fixed in post with a little thing called MC Command Center.

Kim Possible

Kim Possible/Ron Stoppable ✅

This show opened my scope for multishipping. To this day, this is the only time where I ship two things at once with the same level of love. Anyway, Ron was just such a dumbass and I love them.

Kim Possible/Shego ✅

COME ON NOW. They were the first jerk of a pull start to the discovery of my sexuality. Also very cute, I love their storyline together. I find it easier to believe Shego was in love with Kim, but it’s still a very solid ship.

Ever After High

Apple White/Darling Charming ✅

I know people make a huge drama over it, but I also can’t get over the fact that Darling’s kiss breaks the curse. But even then, their small moments do make me think that the story might’ve been gearing up in that direction. I’m not sure, though.

Raven Queen/Dexter Charming

These two are miscommunication gold. And I hate it. But I love it. They are less compelling than the other ships that I enjoy from this show, but I still like them together a lot.

Rosabella Beauty/Daring Charming

I don’t know, I’m just a sucker for a good Beauty and the Beast story, plus this is the only relationship that gave Daring even a modicum of character development, in my eyes at least.

South Park

Craig Tucker/Tweek Tweak ✅

This ship is wild. Like, I love it so much, but I honestly think it came out of nowhere. Their unique energy just gives me life, the ball of stress next to a cool bean.

Ok. SO CORNELIUS' VOICE- "AND I'LL NEVER LET YOU FALL-"

Thumbelina

Thumbelina/Cornelius

Me and my mom had a moment where we were both sobbing when Thumbelina got her wings. Like everytime we watched this movie. Like 15 times. One of them last week. Yeah, this one hits different.

Sesame Street

Bert/Ernie

CLASSIC HUSBANDS. How could you not ship these literal LGBTQ icons? They say they aren’t in a sexual relationship, but does that matter? No. I love them as Bert and Ernie, two puppets in love.

Henry Stickmin Collection

Henry Stickmin/Charles Calvin ✅

I refuse to talk about the Valiant Hero ending. I’ve never seen such a strong marriage between bro and mance, and their scenes together are always fun.

Reginald Copperbottom/Right Hand Man ✅

I’m just saying that the amount at which Right Hand Man protects Reginald is sus beyond normal proportions. Also the level of trust? “Reg?” It feels absurdly gay.

West of Loathing

Player/Gary

This is one of the weirdest things I’ve ever shipped, considering one of them is just the player character. But Gary is so cute! I love him so much! Any playthroughs where they go with Gary make me so happy.

Dream Daddy

Player/Craig

Another player character, but this one tugs my heartstrings differently. I know a lot of people think Craig is the most bland. Honestly, I just think everyone else is super messy. Like I’m not about to get with the youth minister, my religious trauma did not crush me for this.

VeggieTales

Bob the Tomato/Larry the Cucumber

I actually heard this isn’t too crazy of a ship, but I swear, if you grew up as a Christian queer and watched VeggieTales, you felt the vibes. Like Bert and Ernie, tbh. But also, a scroll of the fics indicates gratuitous smut that I am not down for.

Tom and Jerry

Tom/Jerry

I love the fanart of human Tom and Jerry, but if you think about their relationship, I would say they’re almost as fucked up as Batjokes. They care about each other, but they also inadvertently or purposefully almost kill each other. Love them tho.

Magic School Bus

Carlos Ramon/Phoebe Terese

A wtf ship. But hear me out. I was a literal child and saw a very adorable relationship dynamic that made my heart squeeze. That’s it.

Clifford

Emily Elizabeth/Jetta Handover

Okay. I know what you’re thinking. “What the fuck’s wrong with you?” I know. Another wtf ship. But they were cute, no denying that. I love how Jetta’s character developed and the friendship these two managed to cultivate together. And again, I WAS A CHILD. 

Greek Mythology

Hades/Persephone

I love them. They scream love in such a unique way, and they trigger my arranged marriage turned love story guilty pleasure. Also, we love the fact that Persephone has equal authority to Hades.

Achilles/Patroclus

Have you ever seen anything as gay as these two? They are true mythological tragedy icons at their finest and are just peak masculine love.

Babylonian Mythology

Gilgamesh/Enkidu

More gay tragedy. This one actually makes me emotional, though. Who knew we could find that much of the first story known, have it be major character death and enemies to lovers, on top of being gay af?

Bible

David/Jonathan

Is it heresy? Yes. Is it assuming things? Yes. Is it benefiting from a dodgy translation? Yes. Do have any fucks to give? No. Besides, I have no respect for the Bible. They are gay.

[thelostgirl21]

Watching the episode "Beside Still Water" (2.20), I've just realised something...

Is it me, or has the Malec fandom (myself included) somehow collectively managed to forget one rather essential aspect of the wish Valentine was trying to make to Raziel before Clary successfully stopped him from doing so?!

Because, in virtually every alternate universe scenario (ex: fanfiction, story outline, discussions, etc.) I've read where Valentine does succeed in making his wish, said scenario tends to assume that Magnus (Simon, Luke...) would die, and Alec & co. would be left behind to mourn the loss of all Downworlders.

Except the immediate death of all Downworlders was only one part of the wish Valentine intended to make... The scene actually goes:

RAZIEL: It has been a thousand years since I was last summoned to this place. Why do you summon me now, Nephilim?

VALENTINE: My Lord Raziel, the great men and women in the lineage of Shadowhunters, which you have created here, have failed in their mission to rid this world of demon scum.

RAZIEL: I see you are impatient. What is it you ask of me?

VALENTINE: Immediate death of all evil-blooded creatures, demon and Downworlder alike, as well as the disloyal Shadowhunters who protect them.

RAZIEL: The destruction of the souled creatures of the Downworld, and of our own Nephilim, that is not Heaven’s wish.

VALENTINE: What?

RAZIEL: But thou who spills thy blood, thou shalt compel from me an action.

Doesn't it mean that, should Valentine have succeeded in completing his wish, only the Shadowhunters believing in the righteousness of his cause would have survived?

Because technically, protecting Downworlders is part of a Shadowhunter's duty. Even those that are filled with prejudice generally agree that it is their responsibility to keep the Downworld safe and wouldn't wish to destroy them all. They just fear and generally don't trust them. And they sure aren't loyal to the Circle.

Sure, when creating an alternate universe, there's nothing wrong with the author wishing to alter more than a single element of it.

If you wish to have Clary fail to stop Valentine from making his wish to Raziel, while also changing the nature and intent of the wish itself, it's no problem at all! By all means!

What surprises me is the fact that I can't recall having ever read a single "Clary failed to stop Valentine from making the wish" story where Alec, Isabelle, Clary, and/or any Clave member that ever dared oppose Valentine's vision (a.k.a. the "disloyal Shadowhunters who protect [Downworlders]") all suddenly died alongside Magnus, Simon, Luke, Maia, and the rest of the Downworld when the wish was made.

Actually, I literally had to do a double take while watching the scene to make sure that I had heard right.

It's like the image of Magnus suddenly dropping dead right in front of Alec when Valentine successfully makes the wish (and all the angst and despair that typically follows it), is something that I've seen done so often in fandom that my brain had totally erased the part where Valentine's wish also included the immediate death of all "disloyal Shadowhunters who protect [Downworlders]" as well!!!

It's uncanny!

I've just realised that if an author was to write an A.U. where the ONLY THING changing about that Lake Lyn scene was Clary failing to stop Valentine from properly making that wish, both Magnus and Alec would be killed by it!

So would Clary, Isabelle, Maryse, Robert, Andrew, Lydia, Imogen, etc.

As tragic as that would be, part of me can't help but find the idea of a bunch of Downworlders and Shadowhunters suddenly all entering the afterlife together with no real prior warning somewhat hilarious!

Valentine: [Spills blood and makes wish.]

Everyone in the Shadow World that didn't agree with the Circle's ideals: [Dies.]

Raziel: It is done.

Alec: Wait. Where are we? What happened? Why does this look like some weird Downworlders-Shadowhunters convention, and what's with all the white?

Magnus: Don't panic, but I think we're dead.

Alec: What?

Isabelle: [Sighs.] Most likely.

Clary: Yeah, sorry. Valentine wished for the immediate death of all Downworlders and the Shadowhunters who protect them. I couldn't stop him.

Alec: Oh. [Small pause as he appears to consider it.] Okay then.

Magnus: Okay?

Alec: Yeah. Okay.

Magnus: You were killed by a member of your own kind simply for not wishing all Downworlders dead, Alexander! How is any of this [Gestures at the huge gathering around them.] OKAY?!

Alec: I just went through the soul-wrenching agony of feeling my parabatai die; meaning there was a very good chance that his attempt to stop Valentine had failed. Ever since, I've been utterly terrified that the man I love would just suddenly drop dead in my arms! Instead, I'm here, you're here, my soul feels whole again, I can sense Jace's presence nearby - meaning he must be here somewhere, too - my whole family [Gets distracted by something he sees in the distance.] HEY MOM! [Waves.] OVER HERE! [Brings his attention back to Magnus.] seems to be here, also... So yeah... I'm not happy that everyone I've ever cared about just died - or that the Mundane world is now at the mercy of the Circle - sure! But... Okay, I guess.

Maryse: [Waves back enthusiastically, looking relieved to see familiar faces, and quickly proceeds to make her way to them.]

Magnus: [Stunned.] I...

Clary: Yeah... The man you love dying in your arms? Not recommending it. Can't say I'm too upset that I won't have to go through the whole grieving process that usually comes after, though... Can you really sense Jace?

Alec: Yeah, don't worry, he'll turn up. We probably landed on opposite sides of... [Gestures at their surroundings.] whatever this place is. Best stay put, 'cause I know the little impulsive shit won't, and then we'll just be chasing each other around...

Maryse: [Hugs her two children as soon as she reaches them, then Clary, before surprising an already stunned Magnus by offering him a big heartfelt hug, too.] Is everyone okay? Have you seen Max?

Alec: Not yet, but there seems to be a rather large gathering of Shadowhunters from the L.A. Institute over there.

Isabelle: And we're good, Mom.

Maryse: Good? [Visually checks on everybody again.] Good. [Gestures towards the gathering Alec just mentioned.] Is it okay if I just leave for a moment to go find your youngest brother?

Alec: Sure! By the way, if you come across Jace, could you please let him know we're here?

Maryse: Of course! I'll be right back! [Briefly turns towards Magnus.] It's so good to see you, Magnus. Well, not that I'm happy you're - you know - dead. But I'm just glad that Valentine was wrong and, wherever we are, or are going, our spirits apparently still belong together.

Magnus: [Mightily confused, much to Alec and Isabelle's amusement.] Ah... Likewise?

Maryse: And I'm glad you two found each other again. [Smiles, looking at her eldest and Magnus in turn, before giving Magnus two affectionate pats on the shoulder and leaving in search of her youngest son.]

Magnus: Actually, we're...

Imogen: Lightwood! There you are!

Isabelle: [Sighs.] Figures...

Alec: [Mumbles.] Well, good to know she apparently was trying to protect the Downworld...

Imogen: I've been talking with Jia, and our latest intel never said anything about Valentine planning to wipe out a bunch of Clave members alongside Downworlders! Have you or his daughter been keeping information from us? [Starts speaking to him in hushed tones.] Word has it she was with Valentine when he made his wish. [Sends a suspicious side glance Clary's way.] How do we know we can trust her?

Clary: Hey! I'm right here!

Alec: First, she's family. Second -

Magnus: [Still trying to process what Alec had previously said, as well as his mother's reaction to seeing him.] Sorry to interrupt, but you still love me?

Alec: Of course, I still love you! Nephilim love once, Magnus. Well, maybe not polyamourous or aromantic ones - but most typically do. And even if that wasn't true, I know I've only ever truly fallen in love once in my whole life, and I can't imagine ever not loving you in the afterlife, either.

Magnus: [Incredulously.] Even after all of this? [Gestures to all the people that died, in part because Shadowhunters and Downworlders had stopped working together to stop Valentine.] After I lost faith in us, and pushed you away in favor of my people, thinking you were holding me back from doing what was necessary to protect them?

Alec: I gave you reason to doubt my word, and you were scared, Magnus... [Takes a small step towards Magnus to gently grab and hold his hands, and tenderly look in his eyes.] You don't stop loving someone just because they are afraid of making a mistake trusting you. You either find a way to win their trust back, or respect their boundaries if you believe you can't or don't know how to do that yet.

Magnus: [Gaze softens.] Alexander, I...

Imogen: [Rudely interrupts.] Look, it's all very touching, but that still doesn't explain why you believe we can still trust her! [Points towards Clary.]

Clary: [Sighs heavily.] Yup! Still here...

Alec: [Rolls eyes at Imogen, rather pointedly, and reluctantly lets go of Magnus' hands, whispering to him.] Sorry, just... hold that thought. [Back to Imogen.] As I was saying: First, she's family and I'd trust her with my - well - afterlife, I suppose. Second, Valentine killed Jace right in front of her! Pretty sure she felt very little sympathy for him after that - biological father or not!

Imogen: [Gasps.] Jace is dead, too? Are you sure?

Alec: [Incredulously.] I felt him die. [Gestures at himself.] Parabatai, remember? He and Clary were at Lake Lyn on a mission to stop Valentine from making the wish when it happened, and they both died trying to stop him. I mean, look around! You do realize that every single Shadowhunter on Earth died alongside the Downworld - except for Circle members and sympathizers - right?

Imogen: What?!

Clary: Yeah, I was there when Valentine made his wish. The immediate death of all Shadowhunters protecting the Downworld was a big part of it. And since watching over the safety of the Shadow World was pretty much our duty as Shadowhunters...

Imogen: [Finally acknowledging her presence.] Come with me! We have to report this to Jia and the rest of the Council at once!

Clary: [Incredulously.] What Council? We're dead! The Downworld no longer exists, and the Mundanes are out of our reach!

Imogen: [In shock, mostly to herself.] My grandson is dead... the whole Herondale bloodline has ended, again... For good this time... Shadowhunters have failed in their Heavenly mission, and the Clave is no more... How could we let this happen?

Clary: [Pats her back in mock sympathy.] There, there...

Isabelle: [Shrugging and looking very unimpressed.] By wasting time pointing fingers and trying to blame others for the Clave's mistakes, instead of improving on communications and collaboration with the Downworld in hopes of actually defeating Valentine?

Imogen: [Glares.]

Simon: [Suddenly showing up after having caught the end of their conversation.] Wait. Are you telling me that anyone here is actually surprised that Valentine was never planning on allowing those with the actual power and resources to hunt him down and hold him accountable for committing mass genocide to live after he made the wish?!

Alec: The dead guy's got a point.

Simon: Seriously?!

Alec: [Shrugs with a small amused smirk.]

Jace: [Making his way through the thick crowd.] Alright, sorry... Coming through... Look man, I got here first, and I'm trying to reach my girlfriend and my parabatai over there! So, unless you want me to make you move...

Clary and Alec: JACE! [Both rush over to throw themselves in his arms, nearly knocking him and a bunch of innocent bystanders over.]

Jace: Whoa! Easy! You'd think you guys thought I was dead or something! OW!

Alec: [Having slightly pulled back to hit him over the head.] Not funny, Jace! I felt the bond break, you dumbass!

Jace: [Wincing apologetically.] Yeah, that must have been unpleas - OW!

Clary: [Having just hit him, too.] And I watched you die.

Jace: [Rubs the back of his head awkwardly.] Okay, sorry. Too soon?

Alec: [Still visibly shaken and close to tears, throwing himself back into Jace's arm alongside Clary.] Just don't ever do something like that again. I told you to be careful?

Jace: [Tightening his hold on his parabatai.] I know, and I swear I was! Leaving you behind felt like a part of me was being torn apart, too, by the way. I'm sorry we lost, but I'm glad you're here. Death would have been Hell without you.

Clary: [Hugging them both, slightly amused.] You guys let me know if you need a moment?

Jace: [Almost possessively crushing them both in his embrace.] Nope! You two aren't going anywhere! I need both my soul and my heart here with me, thank you very much! At least for a few more minutes.

Alec: Good thing I no longer need to breathe. Clary: [Chuckling.] You and me both!

Imogen: [Wisely chooses to observe the very emotional reunion from a distance.]

Simon: So, Magnus, have you and Alec gotten back together yet?

Isabelle: Simon! We barely all just got here!

Simon: And they haven't even kissed yet? I mean, come on! What are they waiting for? I get you're upset that Alec didn't tell you about the Soul Sword right away, Magnus. But with the Clave threatening to take his position away, and Robert having used it as leverage against them...

Isabelle: [Warningly.] Simon...

Simon: What?

Isabelle: [Stares back pointedly.]

Simon: Wait. Was I not supposed to have known about that?

Isabelle: [Sighs.] I might, indeed, have forgotten to ask Alec for permission before telling you...

Simon: Oops.

Magnus: Telling me what? What is he talking about?

Robert: [Joining them with Maryse and Max.] The only reason Alec didn't take the fall and lose his position over Valentine escaping while in his custody was because I threatened the Clave to let Alec know about us having lost the Soul Sword, and they were scared the minute he did, he would let the Downworld leaders of New York know as well.

Magnus: Are you telling me that Alec wasn't supposed to know about the Soul Sword when I came to the Institute to have dinner with him, and the Clave indirectly finding out he did might have landed you both in hot water?

Robert: There's a bit more to it, but that could have been a possibility, yeah...

Luke: [Having finally reached them, Raphael in tow.] Told you Alec was trying, and we should have continued to trust him...

Magnus: Mistakes were made...

Raphael: Yeah, he probably needed a moment to figure out how to navigate that whole mess with the Clave… You know, in hindsight, we'd have stood a better chance continuing to work with the New York Institute rather than accepting the Seelie Queen's terms...

Magnus: I have regrets...

Luke: To be fair, she did say that the Seelie Court had been beyond the reach of the Angels and their powers for quite some time now, and promised us all asylum...

Simon: [Scoffs.] Pretty sure she just meant the Seelie Court had been beyond the reach of the Angels and their powers for quite some time because the Angels had shown no interest in reaching them for quite some time, too!

Magnus: [Blinks a few times as it suddenly dawns on him.] Oh.

Luke: ...

Raphael: Yeah. I can't believe any of us fell for that.

Meliorn: If that's any comfort, the Queen's been heavily sulking in that corner over there ever since we all got here...

Isabelle: [Almost jumps back, caught off guard by the sound of Meliorn's voice talking right next to her.] Okay, where are you all suddenly coming from?

Raphael: [Ignoring Isabelle's question, and pretty much having decided not to question anything that happens in this place anymore.] It is a bit of a comfort, actually.

Luke: Yeah...

Simon: Yup! Not to be the petty one, but serves her well!

Alec: [Returning to their small group and going to hug Max and his father.] Have I missed anything interesting?

Isabelle: [Shrugs with an amused smirk] Just Simon proving he's got more brains than all of us combined, apparently.

Alec: [Confused.] What?

Luke: He detected the hidden lie in the promise that the Seelie Queen made to keep the Downworld safe from Valentine upon hearing it right away, while we'd all missed it.

Simon: To be fair, after that whole kissing stunt she pulled on us, I've been expecting the worst from her.

Alec: We should always expect the worst from her.

Luke: Yeah, expecting the worst from the Seelie Queen is pretty much "Shadowhunting 101".

Simon: You know, I'm curious... Alec, if the Queen swore to you "You'll be safe in our realm. It has been beyond the reach of the Angels for millennia now", what would be the first thought that would pop to your mind?

Alec: That the Angels have had no interest in interacting with Seelies for millennia, so there's been no attempt on their part to reach it, and that you'll be safe from any Seelies attempting to harm you while you're down there, why?

Simon: [Breaks into a self-satisfied smile.] See!

Magnus: [Groans.] Okay, now you're just rubbing it in.

Alec: [Confused, while looking at all the other members of the Downworld Cabinet.] Wait. Did any of you actually fall for that?!

Magnus, Raphael, and Luke: [Trying to make themselves very small and all avoiding Alec's gaze.]

Meliorn: I didn't! To be fair, that's why the Queen had me temporarily removed from the Cabinet - or more appropriately put under house arrest. She was concerned I might experience a... conflict of loyalty over her intentions of siding with Valentine.

Isabelle: You mean she was concerned you'd attempt to warn us?

Meliorn: Well, she was pretty confident that her Alliance with Valentine, and promise that we'd just keep to our own realm - steering clear of Circle members and Mundanes on Earth- would ensure our safety as well as that of those that had chosen to take Sanctuary with us. But I knew he could lie... [Pauses.] Plus, you might all be credulous idiots - well, except the Daylighter and Mr. Lightwood here, apparently - but I may have grown rather fond of you lot.

Raphael: Are you still unable to lie, or...?

Meliorn: [Sighs and rolls his eyes.] Would you be unwilling to take my word that I didn't wish any of you dead even if I could? I mean, despite working for the Clave, Isabelle's always been willing to bend the rules and protect us at great personal risk. Her brother seemed to be coming around and trying to change the system from within... With the right type of support, I had hope he might succeed... At least, it kept things from being boring.

Luke: Sadly, now we'll never know...

Magnus: All because I overreacted, and pulled out too fast...

Simon: [Snorts.]

Isabelle: [Hits him, trying her own best not to laugh.]

Raphael: [Rolls eyes and sighs heavily.] Sexuals.

Magnus: [Eyes going wide while finishing his sentence.] ...of the Cabinet and the Accords! Lilith!

Alec: [Glares at Simon and his little sister.] Really?! I'll have you know that Magnus isn't - [Suddenly remembers he's got nothing to prove, and really couldn't care less what anyone might think of his love life.] - You know what? Never mind.

Simon: [Stifling his laughter.] Sorry.

Isabelle: [Regaining control over her own emotions.] It's been a long day. [Looks around.] Hey, where's Maia?

Simon: We came across some guy named Kyle on our way here.

Luke: Jordan Kyle?

Simon: Yeah. Apparently, they used to date, and he's the one that accidentally changed her into a werewolf, then left. There seemed to be lots of tension and unresolved business between these two, so I thought it best to give them some privacy.

Raphael: And you're not scared he might try to win her back?

Simon: [Shrugs.] Truthfully? I don't know if it's a side effect of being dead, or what... But I don't feel especially possessive over those I love right now? Kind of like... I don't see why her opening her heart to someone else should replace or remove my own space from hers, or make her love me any less. At this point, I just want all of us to be happy together and find our own peace, you know?

Meliorn: [Nods.] I do. So, once we've settled in this new plane of existence, would you and Isabelle be both interested in joining me to explore what unearthly delights the afterlife might have to offer us?

Simon: [Stunned.] I...

Isabelle: [Laughs and shakes her head bemusedly] You're not wasting any time!

Meliorn: [Shrugs, while smiling warmly and sharing in her amusement.] What can I say? There's obviously an easy chemistry between you two and, from what I've heard, your question about Maia wasn't entirely devoid of interest.

Simon: [Actively thinking this over...] I might need to discuss it with Maia first, and I've never been with a guy before, but... I mean... Well, I'm not sure about being sexually attracted to you, but I'm strangely okay about the idea of sharing an intimate moment and cuddling, at least... Does that make any sense?

Raphael: Yeah. Tons of sense. I'm really not into sex, but emotional intimacy, cuddling, and closeness is often good, regardless of gender.

Isabelle: [Smiles dreamily.] Raphael's cuddles are amazing. And this has nothing to do with the yin fen, by the way.

Meliorn: I'm into pretty much everything - even when not directly involved - although I'd never enjoy watching or sharing while knowing it makes anyone uncomfortable. If all agree, I say Raphael should be welcome to join us for cuddles, if he wishes!

Raphael: [Considering.] Maybe I will... Although, it may take some time for me to get used to the idea of cuddling up to a group of people...

Isabelle: Hey. We can start by spending some time on our own, too. Or even stop there if you're not comfortable going any further. Like Simon said, I don't think developing our own more exclusive relationships in a place like this would ever take away from anything else my heart might be comfortable sharing with others.

Simon: Agreed. No one should ever feel pressure to do anything they may not want to.

Raphael: [Blushing lightly.] Thanks. I'm not saying "no" to getting close to anyone else. It's just a lot of new things to adapt to for now, and I've always been someone that enjoys taking my time to build friendships. Even on the romantic front, such connections occasionally happen, but they don't exactly do so frequently, nor easily.

Simon: Yeah, I get why suddenly getting close to a bunch of people might be a little overwhelming in that context.

Raphael: Might have an easier time cuddling up to you, though.

Simon: [Shocked.] Me?!

Maia: [Showing up with Jordan, holding each others' arms, looking relaxed and happy.] Don't sound so surprised. You're a pretty amazing guy that makes people easily feel loved and safe. I mean, we might have been joking that everyone wants to have sex with Jace, but I think an even higher number of us just want to cuddle you up!

Clary: [Returning with Jace, looking slightly out of breath, despite not needing it, hair a bit tousled.] Who wants to have sex with Jace now?

Meliorn: I do.

Magnus: I don't.

Raphael: Me neither.

Alec: I thought I once did.

Maia: Been there. Done that. Might want to do it again.

Jordan: Yeah, I can see the appeal.

Luke: Bit young.

Raphael: Give it a few hundred years.

Luke: Still, we've got a bit of a father and son - or at least weird uncle - vibe going on...

Maryse: I think Robert and I will both pass.

Robert: Amen to that.

Isabelle: Yeah, and with the whole brother thing, for me that'd be too weird...

Max: Ew...

Jace: [Mock glaring at Max.] Geez! Thanks, bud!

Max: You're my big brother!

Jace: [Playfully ruffles his hair.] I know! Just messing with you!

Simon: I... might?

Isabelle: [Shocked, but also greatly amused by the admission.] Really?!

Simon: Truthfully?! There's a lot I'm questioning right now.

Imogen: I don't. He's my grandson.

Simon: [Confused, looking at Isabelle.] Wait. She's still here?

Isabelle: [Shrugs.] Apparently.

Jace: Well, as flattering as all the attention is - and I can't believe this is coming from me - but it would appear that I've been having rather strong monogamous instincts lately.

Meliorn: And we shall all respect that.

Clary: [Teasingly gasps in shock.] But what about your Bookclub?

Jace: [Leaning in to tenderly kiss her.] I'm sure they'll find something else to read.

Max: [To Robert.] So... If you can have more than one girlfriend or boyfriend, why did you cheat on Mom?

Maryse: Max!

Robert: Because the Clave's traditions would have us believe that it is wrong and against the will of the Angels - that everything about our lives has to be about resisting our impulses, leading with our heads, and putting duty above all else.

Alec: Yet I'm pretty sure that what hurt Mom the most isn't that you fell in love with someone else, too, Dad; but that you lied about it, and tried to keep it away from her rather than addressing the issue as partners.

Maryse: It's true. Although I've been so conditioned by the Clave to believe that loyalty and exclusivity in a matrimonial partnership between Shadowhunters is everything, that I might have wished to get divorced either way. Oddly enough, I think Robert and I have always been better together as friends.

Robert: I couldn't agree more.

Max: Okay, but if I wanted to have two girlfriends... Or a boyfriend and girlfriend?

Isabelle: [Laughs.] How about you start with one? You'll know if polyamory feels right when you get there.

Max: What about you, Alec?

Alec: I've got nothing against polyamory, and I'll admit to perhaps being a bit of a closeted "hugger", but -

Simon: I knew it!

Alec: [Fixes Simon with a stern stare over his sudden interruption.]

Simon: [Recoils sheepishly.] Sorry... [Grins, as he playfully decides to put Alec's declaration to the test.] Come here! [Starts to move closer with his arms held wide open.]

Alec: [Says nothing, but rolls his eyes and groans - pretending to be annoyed - yet still walks right into Simon's open embrace and wraps his own around him in a big, heartfelt hug.]

Simon: [Momentarily freezes and isn't exactly sure how to respond, because, to be honest, he was expecting Alec to back away from him and/or firmly tell him "no", like Jace had, once.]

Alec: [Closes his eyes and lets out a satisfied hum, relaxing further into the embrace, while making no indication that he's intending to let go anytime soon - or ever.]

Isabelle: [Is trying not to laugh.]

Simon: [Awkwardly shifts a bit, only causing Alec to tighten his hold to keep him firmly in place and hide his nose in the crook of his neck.]

Magnus: [Can barely breathe while doing his best to contain his laughter as well.]

Simon: [Whispering.] Izzy? Izzy, what do I do? He's not letting go, Izzy.

Isabelle: [Biting the interior or her mouth to help her stay in control.] Yeah, you might be stuck there for a while...

Maryse: [Chuckles.] Pretty sure he and Jace hugging it out could well last 10 minutes, sometimes.

Simon: [Eyes go wide as he mouths back "10 minutes"? to Izzy.]

Magnus: [Is now wheezing.]

Alec: [Shoulders start shaking lightly as he starts struggling to keep himself from laughing, too.] Yeah, but we're parabatai. Want me to let you go?

Simon: [Hesitates.] Yeah. Maybe? I mean, it's nice and all, but you basically went from being unable to remember my name and looking at me like you want me dead, to giving me one of the biggest hugs anyone's ever offered me in my life!

Alec: [Chuckles and moves back, but still briefly holds Simon's arms to steady him, only fully letting go once he's sure he's found his balance and is solidly standing on his own.] Can't want you dead now that you already are, Simon.

Simon: [Frowns.] Good point. [Realizes.] Hey! You said Simon!

Alec: [Smiles knowingly while shrugging it off.] I did. [Moves back to return his attention towards his little brother.] So yeah, I'm fine with hugging my family and close friends, but I'm pretty sure I'm rather strongly on the monogamous end of the spectrum as far as romance and sexuality goes...

Simon: [To Izzy.] Wait. Did your brother imply I'm part of his "family and close friends" group?

Isabelle: [Amused]. You mean, you didn't know?

Luke: Yeah, even I caught the exasperated big brother vibes rolling off him in waves whenever you're around.

Raphael: Or the way he'll get all worked up about you getting yourself into trouble, and express worry that you'll be doing anything impulsive and stupid that will only make his work harder.

Magnus: Pretty sure I even caught him saying "That little shit! I swear, next time I see him, I'm going to wring his neck!" once, before taking off to go fix one of the messes you'd inadvertently caused.

Isabelle: That bad, huh? Usually, that's the kind of talk he uses while referring to Jace.

Maryse: You've never had an overprotective big brother looking after you, have you?

Simon: No. Just one big sister. No brother.

Maryse: That explains so much.

Alec: [Eyes widen in distress as it suddenly dawns on him.] Oh, shit. Simon, I'm so sorry...

Magnus: [Looking at Alec with concern.] What is it?

Alec: [A little helplessly.] His sister, and his mother, they're...

Simon: [Looking a bit dejected, too.] Mundanes, I know...

Alec: [Taking this apparently really hard.] And we've left them all behind with a bunch of sociopath Circle members, and no one to protect them.

Luke: Well, at least the Circle was always about cleansing Earth from demonic influence to keep the Mundane world safe.

Raphael: Yes, until they all collectively decide that "demonic influence" isn't only defined by the presence or absence of demonic blood, and that anyone with "impure ideologies" must be cleansed...

Magnus: Somehow, if you're trying to be reassuring, I don't believe this is helping, my Dear Raphael.

Raphael: [Confused.] Is "being reassuring" what we are supposed to be doing?

Magnus: [Points towards Alec that seems to be starting to have a bit of a mental breakdown, and Simon's increasingly concerned looks.]

Raphael: Oh. Right.

Alec: [Mostly to himself, starting to pace...] I was so relieved that everyone I loved was safe - [Winces slightly, as he realizes that "being dead" might not be what people would typically considered "safe".] relatively speaking - that I was starting to forget about all those people we were supposed to protect, and that got left behind...

Magnus: Alec, they they aren't all your responsibility.

Alec: Aren't they?! Nephilim were created to protect the world from demon, and we just -

Sudden booming voice resonating in the white space: This is Raziel speaking. I am receiving an abnormally heavy volume of prayed requests for answers right now. This is thus a public service announcement. First, my apologies over what happened, but I did not have the power to refuse to grant anyone the wish as proper procedures had been followed; a mistake we angels shall try to avoid making in the future. Due to the current volume of new arrivals, your souls have all been placed in a temporary waiting area. If you are here, that means you aren't going to any Hell dimension. If some of you suddenly start glowing and vanishing - no worries - that only means your own corner of Heaven has been properly set to welcome you, and you should all be joining your friends and families in a timely manner. In response to the horrific nature of the wish that was made, please take note that all surviving Nephilim have been utterly stripped of their runes, sight, and any angelic powers, and all further attempts to contact or summon us shall be properly ignored.

[Pauses as the sound of collective cheering in the room would have made it difficult for even Raziel's voice to be heard.]

Raziel: Those that come to genuinely see the errors of their ways and repent might be granted salvation. Others shall be lost. Mundanes should be safe from any demon that has been killed through the wish until they fully reform in Hell dimensions and somehow attempt to return to Earth, but we expect this to take a few centuries. Until then, we shall be monitoring the situation.

Simon: [Looking relieved at the news.] Well, this is reassuring.

Alec: [Looking relieved, too, but still reeling a bit.] Yeah... Yeah, this is good. I mean, if Circle members are just a bunch of jerks without powers, Mundanes should be able to look after themselves, right?

Simon: Sure! Plus, I mean, a few centuries is a long time, you know? Long enough for them to start World War IV and possibly nuke the planet.

Clary: You know, Simon's right. Demons possibly returning to Earth in a few hundred years is likely not the first thing Mundanes should be worrying about right now.

Izzy: Well, that sure is a very uplifting thought.

Alec: Yeah... [Sarcastically.] I'm feeling much better about it now, thanks.

Simon: Anytime, bro'!

Alec: So, basically you're telling me the Earth is doomed regardless of anything we did?

Clary: Most likely.

Alec: Great.

Magnus: [Wrapping his arms around himself.] Well, at least, you're not the one that let his personal issues get in the way of his ability to think clearly, and made a terrible mistake that ended up indirectly costing all of us our lives, and breaking your heart in the process.

Alec: [Concerned and confused, taking a small step towards him while searching for his gaze.] How is any of what's happening here your fault, Magnus?

Magnus: [Hugging himself tighter.] Simon and you saw right through the Seelie Queen's hidden lie right away, Alexander! If I'd let you explain how you found out about the missing Soul Sword in the first place, if I'd known the Clave had been threatening to take the Institute from you, I...

Alec: [Interrupting while going to stand right in front of him, trying to get all of his attention.] Yeah, but you didn't know. And part of the reasons you didn't know is because I thought keeping my own problems from you would protect you from being under more stress after everything that had happened with the Clave and Valentine. [Grabs and tenderly hold one of his hands again.] Point is, we all made what we believed to be the best choices we could make with whatever knowledge and resources we had available at the time.

Magnus: [Stares back a him, listening attentively, but still looking unsure.]

Alec: [Reaches with one hand to cup Magnus' cheek with his free hand.] All I know is that I don't think I could have lived without you, and I'm pretty sure I simply can't move on without you now, either. [Almost pleading with him.] Magnus, I love you.

Magnus: [Gaze softening, reaching to cover Alec's hand with his own and closing his eyes for a moment.] I love you, too, Alexander.

Alec: [Beams back at him.] Good. Then I need you to let go of that guilt, and trust me when I tell you that things are going to be okay, alright?

Magnus: [Nods and lifts his head to kiss him, wrapping his hands around his neck.]

Alec: [Meets Magnus' lips halfway, securely wrapping his own arms around his back, holding him close.]

Simon: Ah, guys, I think you're...

Isabelle: Shh... Don't ruin the moment...

Alec and Magnus: [Keep on passionately kissing while the light that's started to surround them gets brighter and brighter, and...]

Simon: Yup! They're gone!

Isabelle: It's alright, we'll catch up...

Jace: [With his arm wrapped around Clary's shoulders, him and her having both started to glow, too] Yeah, about that... Hope you won't be mad if Clary and I just...?

Isabelle: [Laughs while shaking her head fondly at the sight.] I know, I know, where he goest, you will go, and where he lodgest, you will lodge, and all of that.

Jace: [Returns her laugh, as the light surrounding him and Clary intensify, pointing towards Isabelle.] You seem to forget something else, too. Three go in... [Winks back at her before vanishing with Clary.]

Isabelle: [Noticing that she's also started glowing.] Three come out. [Extends her hand towards Simon.] Want to catch a ride?

Simon: [Laughs, and reaches for her hand, pulling her closer.] Think it'll work? [Quickly finds himself bathed in light, too.]

Isabelle: [Smiles smugly, leaning against his chest, looking up.] Looks like it.

Simon: [Briefly looks away at the rest of the group.] Hope you guys won't mind if we...?

Meliorn: No, you guys go right ahead!

Luke: Sure, you know. Just save us a seat, or a cloud, of whatever we're supposed to be sitting on when we get there.

Maia: Yeah, you can go ahead and kiss her!

Simon: T-t-that's... Wait, that's not what I asked! [The glow surrounding him and Isabelle keep growing brighter.]

Isabelle: Yes, but Mr. Simon Simon Lewis, would you like to? Unless you no longer think I'm hot?

Simon: [Chuckles and brings his attention back to her.] Oh no, you're still and always have been hot... And glowing... Wow, you're just glowing so bright right now! Think we - [Gets interrupted by Isabelle finally locking lips with him, to the sound of their friends cheering.]

Catarina: [Arrives with Madzie in tow, just as Simon and Isabelle are disappearing together in the middle of a heated embrace.] Hey guys! So if that was Isabelle, and Alec's not here, I suppose that means he and Magnus already moved on?

Raphael: [Nods.] Yeah.

Catarina: [Sighs.] Damnit. Madzie's been asking to see Alec and we've been searching for them ever since we got here.

Maryse: Yeah, you just missed them. My only kid that has yet to cross over is Max, over here.

Madzie: [Perks up as she leaves Catarina's side to go stand in front of Max, and extend her hand to him.] You're Alec's little brother? I'm Madzie.

Max: [Smiles back at her and shakes her hand.] Yeah, I'm Max. Nice to meet you, Madzie. Whoa? Are those gills? They look so cool!

Madzie: [Beams back at him and starts glowing. Max, too.]

Max: [Still holding her hand.] Wait. Are you doing that, or are we...?

Madzie: [Shakes her head "no".] Not the one doing it. [Turns towards Catarina with a questioning look.] Mom?

Catarina: [Reassuringly.] It's alright, Kiddo. You two go right ahead, we'll be there in a moment.

Madzie: [Spontaneously throws herself into Max's arms, hugging him.] Are you scared? It's okay. I'll protect you.

Max: [Chuckles and protectively wraps his arms around the Warlock child.] Yeah, I know you will.

Maryse: [Watches as the two vanish, amused.] Yeah, he must like her. Max didn't even argue about having completed his Shadowhunter training, and being the one supposed to keep her safe.

Robert: [Thoughtfully.] I was just thinking that.

Raphael: [Slightly annoyed.] So, are we all supposed to form couples before we're allowed to move on? Because I'm going to be stuck here for a very, very long time.

Catarina: [Rolling her eyes.] God, I sure hope not! But, you know, just in case. [Goes to Raphael's side and wraps and arm around his waist.]

Raphael: [Glares back at her, but doesn't try to move away from the embrace.] Seriously?

Catarina: Would you rather cross over on your own?

Raphael: [Challengingly holds her gaze, but stays silent.]

Catarina: [Smugly.] Just what I thought. Besides, Magnus would be upset if I didn't make sure his kids didn't get lost somewhere on their way home.

Raphael: [Sighs] I hate you.

Catarina: [Chuckles.] No you don't.

Imogen: [Outraged.] What are you doing, Seelie?

Meliorn: [Innocently, while linking arms together with her.] What? If Raphael's theory is correct, you'll be stuck here a very long time otherwise.

Imogen: [Still unimpressed.] And why is that?

Meliorn: [Chuckles.] Most people tend to run away at the sight of thorns. [Lifts one of her hands to bring a gentleman's kiss to it.] While we Seelies know thorns are meant to protect a much gentler, softer, pliant core...

Imogen: [Blushes, taken aback by the compliment, having obviously not expected it.]

Luke: [Having started to glow while standing on his own.] Yeah, I might have to put a question mark on that theory...

Maryse: Oooh! Wait up! [Moves to Luke's side to go wrap an arm around his waist.]

Luke: [Laughs and makes room for her, while putting his own arm around her shoulders and holding her firmly against his side.]

Maryse: [Smiles up at him.] Hope you don't mind. Kinda want to make sure all the kids are okay.

Luke: [Smiles back.] Not at all. [Extends his hand towards Robert.] Robert?

Robert: [Shrugs.] Why not? [Reaches for Luke's hand, coming to stand next to them.]

Catarina: [Points to someone in the distance.] Is that Lorenzo Rey making out with a curly blonde guy over there?

Raphael: [Nods.] Yeah, probably a good thing Magnus left early.

Maryse: [Follows Catarina and Raphael's gazes, as the light surrounding her, Luke, and Robert keeps on glowing brighter.] Oh! The curly blonde guy's named Andrew Underhill, by the way!

Catarina: You know him? A Shadowhunter?

Maryse: [Nods.] One of our best.

Catarina: [Bemusedly.] What is it with Warlocks and Shadowhunters, lately?

Raphael: [Notices that Lorenzo and Andrew have started glowing, too.] I don't know, but I'm not kissing you to see if it'll allow us to leave faster.

Catarina: [Gives him a pointed glare, while Luke, Maryse, and Robert vanish together.]

Maia: Ah, I wouldn't worry about that too much. [Looks around, as she notices that everyone else in their small group has also started to glow.] I think we're all catching the next ride.

Imogen: [Not listening to anyone in the group, too busy making out with Meliorn while attempting to start loosening his armor, Meliorn eagerly doing the same with her shirt.]

Raphael: Okay, he really wasn't kidding about being into pretty much anything.

Catarina: I... Don't think I can ever unsee that.

Jordan: Right there with you.

Maia: Here's hoping they show up somewhere in their own private room when get to the other side.

[ghoulie-67-baby]

Living as a liar - Hodge Starkweather.

Summary: You find him after his betrayal. Your heart shatters where you stand.

Prompt: ‘I know I shouldn’t love you and yet I still do.’ ‘It’s wasn’t fair. It isn’t fair.’

Warnings: betrayal, crying, angst, violence, blood, wounds,

Pairing: Hodge Starkweather x reader (platonic/otherwise).

Word count: 1,000.

Pain ran up my shins, feet slapped against the stone floor as I frantically chased after Jace. My ribs ached with the strain of my heavy breathing, clenched hand sweated around my weapon as I skidded to a stop beside one of the stone pillars.

Agonised screams from Hodge echoed around the dock as Jace yelled in fury, tackled by Alec before he could land the fatal blow.

"It’s over!" Alec's voice was hard with command as he shoved Jace against the ground.

"It’s not over. He’s a traitor. He deserves to pay." The growl in Jace's voice was drowned out by the sounds of pain as Hodge clutched his stump of a hand. The voices faded into the background as I slowly made my way over, hesitant to confront the betrayer. I stared in silence as Alec activated his runes, the pained sound intensifying as they began to heal over.

"Y/N," he gasped, gritting his teeth as he stared up at me, eyes flickering to my glowing blade.

"Don't." My voice quivered and I shook my head at Him, stepping back as Luke helped him to his feet.

"Please don't look at me like that?" I scoffed, eyes hardening on his face as he looked pitifully at me.

"Like what? Like I'm hurt. Like I'm standing in front of our betrayer. Like I've lost a part of my family?" His eyes dropped to the floor as I spoke, my stomach churning with sickness. "Because I am. You were family. You were so much more than just a teacher than just another Shadowhunter."

"I was locked away from everything. I had no freedom." My hands shook with anger as he spoke, words almost begging for my pity. He wouldn't get it, not from me, not after all this.

"You did that! You did it to yourself-" I threw my hands up as I yelled, my anger getting the better of me. "-You had chance after chance to leave! You could have gotten out! You could've been free!" I turned around, biting back tears as I threw my blade to the ground, surprised by my anger as it embedded in the concrete.

"I couldn't see a way out." He whispered, almost like he was pleading with me. I spun back around, my chest rising and falling in quick succession as I tried to hold back my feelings.

You made a choice, the wrong choice, but you made it." I stalked towards him, noticing Alec and Luke looking at one another as if debating letting me get any closer. "You could've chosen us, you coward, we were your way out. You were lucky to live after that, all of you were but you're still here. You are still alive." My voice dropped into a whisper as my eyebrows furrowed, tears spilling over my waterline as I gazed upon the man I once called family. Waves of anger and anguish flooded my senses as my lip quivered. I let the emotions take over, lunging at the Shadowhunter with a cry.

"You could've fucking chosen us, you coward! You could've chosen us!" I screamed at him, eyes hot with tears and fury as my fists collided with his chest, the pair of us staggering back as I threw my weight against him. "I trusted you!" I lashed out, hands scrambling to hit any part of him I could reach.

This wasn't fighting like he had taught us, this was me begging for this to all be a dream, to not have to lose the man that had welcomed me into his space and taught me to protect myself and others. This was scrambling to find an ounce of forgiveness for him only to come up empty. This was the heart-stuttering shock of being plunged into the icy water and having to fight the burning in your lungs as you gasped for air. This was worse than anything I'd ever experienced before, worse than the feeling of someone dying because at least that person would be at peace. Betrayal meant the person you lost was still out walking around, living a life you should have been involved in, a life you should live too.

"Do you know what the worst part is?" Each word was emphasised by a hit to the chest, legs almost crumbling under me. "The worst part is that I know I shouldn't love you and yet I still do. That's the killer Hodge." My breath caught in my throat as I forced out the words. "That's what breaks my heart most."

Arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me back before I could start another round of punches. I scrambled against the hand, digging my nails in to try and escape the grasp but they didn't let up. Luke's eyes were filled with pity as he held onto Hodge's bicep, grip almost bruising his skin.

"Stop Y/N," Alec's voice was low, almost like a warning as I crumpled in his grasp. "Enough now." Giving in, I slumped against him with shaking legs, my wet breaths rattling in my chest as small sobs wrenched free from my throat.

"It wasn't fair, what you did, it wasn't fair." I sobbed, vision swimming as I dropped my head down. Scuffling feet on the floor indicated Luke was leading him away, Jace following as backup whilst Alec stayed holding me.

"It isn't fair!" I screamed into the cold, empty air, the sound echoing around the dock as I let my knees collapse under me. My anguish poured out as Alec sat in an unjudgemental silence, hand on my shoulder as I cried to myself.

After this, I would leave Hodge and his mistakes behind, and let him be a dark, distant memory of something I knew we could never keep. I'd move on, let myself and my family heal, never failing us by trusting so blindly again.

After this, I would emerge as a better warrior. For the sake of the others that had been betrayed.

[no6secretsanta]

Dangerous Thoughts

To: @secretagentfan

From: @glorifiedscapegoat

Hi, SAF! Happy Holidays and a New Year! I’m so sorry for the delay on this! I hope you like it! You mentioned that you liked AUs, so I went for a Shadowhunters AU because I felt like it suited Shion and Nezumi a lot. Especially since there’s some mutual pining here and some humor. I really hope that you like it!

- - -

“Poseidon?” Safu said into her cell phone, her brow crinkling. “As in the Greek god? That’s what you’re calling this thing? Why don’t you just call it a kraken?”

Shion was only half listening to Safu’s voice. He looked around. The sun had just gone down. He’d always loved to go to the pier, ever since he was a little boy and his mother had taken him there to play arcade games and ride the Ferris wheel. He loved the fair food—burgers and fries, cotton candy and popcorn—and the sparkler parties the college students held on the beach.

The mundanes had poured thousands of dollars into renovating the pier into a tourist attraction. The miniature amusement park was filled with new rides, street vendors, and ticket stands where sleepy-eyed girls passed out bright pink strands to children.

The boards beneath Shion’s feet were still warped and weathered from years of sun and sea salt. The air smelled of ocean water and the sticky scents of candy apples. The merry-go-round in the distance poured carnival music over the assembled crowd. There were ring-toss games where players could win giant stuffed animals, and beneath the railings were dark places where sinister creatures liked to gather.

That was the thing Shion wished he could change about being a Shadowhunter. Shion could see the beauty of the LED lights and mundane-made structures, but he also noticed the things the mundanes didn’t. There were dark sprites gathered underneath one of the abandoned picnic tables, gnawing on scraps of garbage and dropped fries. Over the railing, a mermaid twisted and danced beneath the white-capped waves. She had what appeared to be a glow-stick clutched in her fist.

“Are you all right?” Safu asked. She slipped her phone into the pocket of her jacket. The wind tossed her dark hair, gathered into a high ponytail and spilling to her shoulders. Safu, Nezumi, and Inukashi had dressed in gear, but Shion was wearing street clothes. Safu hadn’t intended for him to tag along.

“I’m fine,” Shion replied. “Where are Nezumi and Inukashi?”

“Over there,” Safu said, pointing.

Shion followed her gaze to the brightly lit stand where mundanes had gathered to compete against each other and win prizes. The goal was to toss a plastic ring and have it land around the neck of one of the red glass bottles lined in the center of a plastic pool. Shion didn’t understand what was so difficult about it—he was uncoordinated by Shadowhunter standards, and even he could throw rings and have them land perfectly.

Nezumi held three plastic rings in his hand. Inukashi, dressed in all black with their hair pulled back, stood beside him, eating blue cotton candy out of a plastic bag. There was a teenager standing next to them—a mundane from the look of the pristine white skin up his bare arms, which were currently folded across his chest.

Nezumi threw the rings, all three into the air at once. Each of them—red and green and blue—spiraled into the air and came down around the neck of the same bottle.

“Shit!” shouted the mundane teenager.

“Told you,” replied Inukashi, their mouth full of bright blue cotton candy.

Safu sighed and pinched the bridge of her nose.

A mixture of cheers erupted from the crowd of mundanes at the ring toss. Nezumi snatched his prize, something in a plastic bag, from the game master and said to the teenager, “Better luck next time.”

He headed towards Safu and Shion with Inukashi padding along beside him. His hair was pulled back, too, several strands hanging loose over his ears and falling to his collarbone. Nezumi had faerie blood in his family, like Shion, and it showed in his features: his vibrant silver eyes, his angular cheekbones, and the porcelain color of his skin.

Dangerous thoughts, Shion told himself. There were things he thought about his parabatai that he could never give voice to—no matter how much it was killing him inside.

“So,” said Shion, attempting to distract himself, “Rikiga said the demon is a kraken?”

“Supposedly,” Safu replied. Nezumi and Inukashi had come into earshot. Inukashi was muttering something about a pretty girl with pink hair who kept squealing whenever her boyfriend told her a joke. “It snatches children from the side of the pier. Someone spotted it lurking next to the boardwalk and thought it was algae–all right, why does Nezumi have a goldfish?”

Nezumi held the plastic bag up into the air. Inside it, a small orange fish swam around in a lazy circle. “I put a teenager in his place and won a fish for my troubles.”

Shion shook his head. Nezumi had spent most of his life training with his parents—two brutal Shadowhunters who had, ultimately, been torn apart by demons. Nezumi’s misfortunes had made him bitter and sarcastic to most, and downright snarky to those he liked spending time with.

Nezumi had adjusted well to mingling among mundanes (partially because of his part-time job at the theater, where most of the cast were Downworlders who had once been normal mundanes) but there were still times when he seemed to forget (or simply not care) that he wasn’t supposed to pick fights in public.

Nezumi stepped around Safu and placed the plastic bag in Shion’s hands. “My bright one,” Nezumi announced in a rather theatrical voice. “I have won a goldfish and offer it to you as tribute.”

He bent forward and kissed Shion on the cheek. Nezumi smelled the same as he always did: jasmine and snowfall, compressed together into something so unique to Nezumi that Shion had never found it anywhere else.

Nezumi had called him “my bright one” long before they became parabatai. Shion looked like he belonged to the Fair Folk, Nezumi had said—with his winter-white hair, pale skin, and bright red eyes. Shion wasn’t surprised. He had a bit of Fae blood in his veins, on his father’s side. “My bright one” was supposedly a sign of high respect for a faerie prince or princess, and so that, on top of “Your Highness” and “Your Majesty”, was a nickname Nezumi assigned to him.

It was a sweet kiss, gentle and soft against his cheek. Though he knew Nezumi was merely joking, Shion blushed. He glanced over at Inukashi, who was watching with wide eyes. Safu looked pale and shocked. It was only a brief glance before she schooled her expression back into impassivity.

Shion took the goldfish. “Thank you, Nezumi. She’s beautiful. Have you named her yet?”

“I thought His Majesty would be upset if I were to impose like that,” replied Nezumi with an indifferent shrug. He took one look at the unimpressed expression on Shion’s face and snorted. “Don’t give me that look. No, I didn’t name her. Do you even name fish?”

“I named mine Bubbles,” answered Inukashi. They were leaning against the pole of a booth selling hot dogs and Coca Cola in massive red and white cups. “A kid in the Academy told me it was cruel to keep fish hostage and dumped it into the ocean. Didn’t have the heart to tell the brat that goldfish can’t survive in saltwater.”

“That’s horrible,” Safu said. Her cheeks were flushed from the mid-evening chill.

Nezumi put a hand over his heart—where his parabatai rune was located, peeking out of the hem of his shirt—and bowed his head solemnly. “A moment of silence, then, for our fallen comrade.”

Shion shook his head with a laugh. He eyed the goldfish in the bag and tried to think of a suitable name.

The goldfish had beautiful orange scales; upon further inspection, Shion saw that there were flecks of pale yellow and white along her sides and around her fins. She seemed to glow from within. Shion thought there might be a drop or two of fae blood in her veins and wondered if that would affect her ability to go into the Institute.

“I like Lady Macbeth,” Shion decided.

“Lady Macbeth dies, you know,” said Nezumi. “That does not bode well for that fish.”

“I can take care of a fish. I’m not forgetful like you.” Shion patted the side of the plastic bag and gave Lady Macbeth a small grin. “Don’t worry, Lady. You’re safe with me.”

“The hell do you mean I’m forgetful?” Nezumi demanded.

Shion opened his mouth to answer—and then he felt a shiver of cold pass over his skin. He knew. Demons gave off a distinctive aura, and though Shion had never been in combat with one, he’d been around them enough. Shadowhunters were instinctively capable of knowing when a demon was present.

All humor had gone from Nezumi’s face. Within seconds, each Shadowhunter had a weapon in hand: Nezumi had his knife, Safu had a seraph blade, and Inukashi clutched a needle-thin dagger. Shion clutched his stele in his fist, the crystal tip pointed outward.

“Where’s it heading?” asked Inukashi.

“Toward the end of the pier,” replied Safu. She jerked her head toward the assemblage of mundanes gathered near the railing overlooking the dark ocean water. “That’s where the most potential victims are located.”

“I’ll cut it off,” said Nezumi. He’d only brought his knife—but Shion knew how quick he was. Nezumi could move as fast as an elf, and though Rikiga required him to bring seraph blades and a sword, Nezumi could often make do with just his dagger and his speed. “Head to the beach and cut it off if it changes course and goes to the water.”

Inukashi and Safu were gone as soon as the command left Nezumi’s lips. Shion took off running toward the end of the pier, his sneakers thumping against the wooden boards. The wind threatened to knock Lady Macbeth from his hands, but he clutched her close and kept her from bouncing.

The stele felt warm and sturdy in his hand. Shion had no weapons, but he felt invincible. The dangerous thoughts from before had been cast aside. Everything in his mind focused on the task at hand: stopping the demon.

Shion heard the footsteps behind him. He didn’t have to look to know it was Nezumi. He’d been given no order, but Shion and Nezumi were parabatai—they battled together, traveled together. Nezumi’s footsteps had been at his side from the moment Shion had begun training.

“Over there,” Nezumi said, but Shion could already see it. A dark shape scurried along the railing, massive and thick, invisible to the eyes of unknowing mundanes. The Ferris wheel was coming back around for another stop. It had begun to slow.

Shion dove toward the Ferris wheel line and began to shove his way through it. He and Nezumi had not applied any glamour runes, so several people swore at them and shouted as Nezumi and Shion stomped on toes and elbowed ribs and knocked people to the ground without an apology. Shion had felt bad about it the first time he’d tagged along for patrol—and maybe he would after the demon was dead.

The carriage was coming to a halt. A young couple—a tall girl in a green school uniform and her petite girlfriend with her hair done up in blond pigtails—was about to climb in. Shion saw the demon beginning to head for the Ferris wheel, going for the metal rails.

“Sorry,” Shion shouted, shoving past the couple and nearly knocking them to the ground. The carriage was small, a colorful square with a pole in the center and two benches. There wasn’t much room to stand.

Over his shoulder, Shion heard the tall girl ask her girlfriend if she was alright. People in the line were shouting at the ticket master, but Shion had already collapsed against the side of the carriage as it had begun to lift back into the air.

The carriage rocked beneath his feet as Nezumi clambered in after him. He slammed the safety gate shut just as the thing hefted into the air. Nezumi leaned out over the railing, clutching his knife in his hand. “Where did it go?” he demanded, craning his head up.

Shion squinted through the lights. He’d seen it. He was positive of that. From this height, the Ferris wheel was a brilliant pillar of light and iron painted bars. The two carriages beneath Shion and Nezumi still had their previous passengers in them. The line below must have still been in a frenzy from Shion and Nezumi’s sudden arrival.

Nezumi set his boot on the bench, and Shion reached out to grab his arm. “Wait.” He set Lady Macbeth’s plastic bag on the ground of the carriage, safely tucked beneath the bench. “Runes,” Shion said, holding out his stele.

The carriage was still rising into the air. Shion could see the beach below, the dark water spilling across the sand. He saw the lights of Kronos in the distance. The mountains and the cliff edges were pinpricks of white towards the direction of the Institute.

The stars were dim and barely visible in the brilliant light of the amusement park. Nezumi glanced over at Shion, his expression blank. He stepped down from the bench and shrugged off his jacket. It slid down his back and landed in a heap, revealing his bare arms and collarbone.

Shion’s mouth went dry. This was the closest he and Nezumi had been to each other without any of the others near for almost a week, and Shion’s heart hammered a mile a minute. Nezumi picked up his jacket and held it out to Shion without a word. Shion took it, knowing the ritual well by now. Nezumi gave him his jacket to wear to keep him safe, Shion marked him with runes, and then Nezumi went off and slaughtered the demon.

The lights of the wheel had turned blue and yellow as Shion slipped Nezumi’s jacket on. The lights cast shadows across Nezumi’s face and arms. His hair hung down around his shoulders, most of it pulled back. Shion could tell by looking at him that he was a warrior: the bones beneath his skin and muscles were hard as iron.

Nezumi was beautiful. He had always been beautiful, even when he was bleeding in the foyer of the Institute. It was a memory Shion didn’t like to relive because it reminded him that there had been a time when he and Nezumi had not been parabatai. Nezumi’s silver eyes flashed in the changing lights of the Ferris wheel. He was beautiful, and Shion stood with his hand trembling around the hilt of his stele and his body aching.

He wanted to touch Nezumi. He knew he couldn’t. He and Nezumi had taken the parabatai oath—had stood in front of the Silent Brothers and pledged to fight together, to live together, to be together, but never to fall in love.

Nezumi stepped forward as the Ferris wheel brought the carriage around to the top. The collar of Nezumi’s gear was low, displaying the pale flesh of his collarbone. The top of his parabatai rune peeked out above his heart. The skin along his throat and shoulders was scored over and over with faded silvery lines that were only visible in brief flashes, the remnants of old runes.

Shion had to step closer to Mark him. He pressed the stele to Nezumi’s forearm. The runes bloomed beneath the tip of the stele: agility, stealth, night vision, glamour so the humans wouldn’t see him. Shion placed a Sure-Strike in between Nezumi’s collarbone, close to his heart where it would be the most effective. Nezumi was slightly taller than him, but enough to make a difference; Shion’s head reached to his chin, and he stared directly at Nezumi’s throat.

“Give me your stele,” Nezumi said abruptly.

Shion jerked his head up. He had just finished the runes. Nezumi reached out to take the stele from his hand, and Shion surrendered it without resistance. Nezumi stared at him, and Shion couldn’t read the expression on his face. Nezumi’s eyes had turned the color of storm clouds in the darkness of the carriage. The lights from the Ferris wheel had turned red and yellow, spreading out around them and spilling down to the pitch-black waters below.

Nezumi took Shion’s arm, the one with the parabatai rune on his wrist. He shoved the sleeve of his jacket and Shion’s button-down up. There was tenderness behind his touch, a gentleness that Shion had never associated with Nezumi before.

Nezumi pressed the tip of the stele to Shion’s wrist and pulled it in swift spirals around his skin. Bolts of warmth shot through Shion’s stomach and down to his toes. He shifted his weight to his other leg.

A single Mark appeared on the pale skin above his parabatai rune. Shion recognized it as the looping patterns of a protection charm. Nezumi’s head was bent forward, his gaze fixed on the task of finishing the rune. Shion fought to keep from shivering. His body felt warm.

Once the rune was finished, Nezumi handed the stele back to Shion. Nezumi’s pale arms were painted in runes of stealth and power, crafted in Shion’s elegant penmanship. Shion gazed down at the scratching on his arm. Nezumi had harsh handwriting, spiked at the corners as if he had carved it with the tip of his knife.

Nezumi gripped the hilt of his knife and stepped forward. He took Shion’s chin between his thumb and forefinger and forced their eyes to lock.

Shion’s heart clenched. “Nezumi?” he whispered. The lights of the Ferris wheel had turned to a deep, rich blue that almost threw Nezumi completely into darkness.

Something rose up on the other side of the carriage—a wriggling mass of frigid tentacles the color of blood. Not the fresh blood that came from a cut from a blade. The blood that welled beneath an infected wound that killed in slow, feverish tendrils. One tentacle had clung to the spoke of the Ferris wheel. Its mouth was open wide, its teeth sharp as needles.

“Nezumi!” Shion shouted, and Nezumi flung himself from the carriage. He caught himself on one of the many bars interlocking the spokes and carriages together.

Shion scrambled to the side and leaned over. Nezumi was holding onto the spoke with one hand. With the other, he hacked at the tentacle keeping the creature locked to the wheel.

The edge of the knife caught the creature’s tentacle as it reeled back. It screeched. Nezumi turned his face away as a spray of black ichor splashed against his neck and bare arms.

Shion clutched the stele in his fist as Nezumi pulled himself up on the spoke. For half a second, Shion considered throwing the stele like a projectile—but the creature, shockingly fast, was already scrambling down along the tangle of iron bars. And a Shadowhunter without their stele is as good as dead.

Shion ran to the other side of the carriage as the wheel began to descend. LED lights exploded around him in a sea of blues and reds and yellows. Nezumi clambered down the wheel spokes after it. Shion could see ichor spilled on the iron. He knew the creature was hurt.

The view from the Ferris wheel was beautiful. The pitch-black sea and the silver sand spread out beneath him in all directions. Shion felt like he was dangling off the edge of the world.

He could taste blood and salt in his mouth, and he knew it had come from Nezumi. Shion’s parabatai was jumping down the length of the wheel, using the spokes and wires and iron bars to steady himself. The creature had gone to the center of the wheel. Its crimson tentacles wrapped around the bolts and jerked. Shion leaned over to see what it was doing—and then he went cold.

The demon was attempting to wrench the bolt out from the Ferris wheel. If it succeeded, the whole thing would roll off the pier. Shion couldn’t pretend that any of the passengers on the wheel would survive, or that any of the groups of mundanes lingering below would, either.

The Ferris wheel rocked. Shion stumbled and caught the edge of the carriage against his stomach. He winced in pain. The creature had its tentacles around the wheel’s heart and was twisting it. Nezumi, spotting the demon and realizing what it intended to do, redoubled his speed and sprinted down the iron bars. He was too far above the wheel’s middle.

The carriage had begun to swing back down and around. Shion ducked when he passed the ticket booth. He couldn’t see the tall girl and her blond girlfriend, but the chaos in the line seemed to have died down. Once he was out of the loading dock, Shion raced to the edge and craned his head upward.

Nezumi stretched his body out along the iron bar. He wrapped his left arm around one of them, and then he looked down at Shion and nodded.

Shion knew, instinctively, without having to wonder, what Nezumi intended for him to do. He pushed the sleeve of his borrowed jacket up—pretending not to notice that it smelled like his parabatai—and etched a quick glamour spell on the inside of his wrist. Once the glamour rune had finished, once Shion knew he would be hidden from the eyes and ears of normal mundanes, he leaned over the edge of the carriage and screamed.

It was different from the squeals of delight from the Ferris wheel passengers. It was different from the laughter on the pier and the squeals of children up way past their bedtime. Shion poured all of his fear and concern for his parabatai into the sound. He released all the frustration he’d been feeling, all the late nights lying awake in his bed, all the dangerous thoughts he couldn’t seem to quell.

The demon stopped yanking on the wheel and raised its head towards the sound. Shion saw its three eyes, oval and glossed as pearls. Nezumi released his grip on the spoke and plummeted down toward the demon. As he fell, he angled his knife, his hair whipping back from around his face. He was a falling star, and the demon’s white eyes seemed to widen as it pieced together that Shion’s scream had been a distraction.

It was too late. Nezumi whipped the knife forward, driving it down into the top of the demon’s skull. The blade punctured its flesh with a slick, wet sound. The creature’s tentacles flailed in a dying spasm.

Nezumi wrenched his knife free and stepped off onto one of the spokes. The demon’s body jerked back and rolled along one of the downward spokes of the wheel. It reached the end and tumbled off. Shion thought he heard a splash in the ocean, but there was no time to wonder. He looked at Nezumi, who was scrambling down the side of the wheel and heading for the ground.

The carriage was coming back around towards the loading dock. Shion grabbed Lady Macbeth from her spot under the bench and hopped out of the carriage as it approached the ground. He was invisible from the glamour rune, so an empty carriage earned a few strange looks, but Shion was making his way through the crowd towards Nezumi long before anyone could wonder what it could mean. Mundanes had an interesting way of dismissing things they perceived as strange simply because it was easier to handle than the truth.

Nezumi was standing a few feet away under one of the pier LED lamps. He was breathing hard. He spotted Shion, and the tension in his body seemed to dissipate. Behind them, the Ferris wheel spun, lowering passengers towards the beach and picking up new ones for the ride. Shion could see the crowd of mundanes, the shimmer of water along the shoreline, and two dark figures standing on the beach that could have been Safu and Inukashi.

“Nice work, Your Majesty,” said Nezumi. He wiped ichor off his bare arms. It left black streaks on his pale skin, as if he’d been messing around with an inkwell and the whole thing had spilled on him.

“You, too,” Shion murmured, lowering his head so Nezumi couldn’t see him blushing. He clenched the plastic bag in his fist. Inside, Lady Macbeth swallowed bubbles and swam without a care in the world.

⁂

Safu and Inukashi were waiting for them beneath the pier. Inukashi had taken off their boots and waded partway into the waves. Safu was wiping ichor off her Hightower hunting knife. At her feet was a patch of drying sand the color of charcoal.

“Was the demon dead when it hit the water?” Shion called. The glamour rune on his right wrist burned in the crisp mid-evening air. “Please tell me it was. Even if it isn’t true.”

“Close enough,” replied Safu. “It rolled into the shallows. Inukashi caught it trying to crawl away, but they cut its tentacle off and it went down.” She nudged at the patch of ichor smeared into the sand. “The tentacle dove into the ocean, but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about.”

Nezumi had wandered away from Shion and down to the edge of the water. Inukashi splashed out of the shallows and jammed their wet feet into their boots. Both he and Safu were fully glamoured, and Shion saw a group of mundane teenagers completely overlook them as they walked across the beach. He wondered what the mundanes would think if they could see them now—a ragtag bunch of Shadowhunters splattered in black blood, with knives and steles rather than wallets and iPhones.

Inukashi made some snide comment in response to something Nezumi had said. Nezumi responded with a sound like a sardonic laugh and brushed some of the black ichor from his arms. All four of them were shivering. The night air smelled like dirt and seawater and popcorn. Shion could hear the carnival at his back. The city in the distance glistened like the carapaces of a thousand beetles, all silver and gold and blinking red. The ocean waves lapped against the sand in the distance. The moon had crept behind a small patch of clouds.

“We’d better get back,” Safu said, pulling her soaking wet jacket around her shoulders. “Before Rikiga sends a search party.”

“Where’d you park the Jeep?” asked Nezumi. He scrubbed his eyes with the back of his hand. Some of the ichor had splattered across his face, leaving a trail of black tar over his lips. “I’ll drive.”

“Doesn’t that burn?” asked Inukashi. They were soaked to the bone, their dark hair clinging to their neck. It had come loose from its ponytail sometime during the battle, and they looked every bit as wild as Shion thought they had the day they arrived at the Institute.

“Not really,” replied Nezumi with an indifferent shrug. “Doesn’t taste that great, though.” He spat a glob of black onto the beach.

“It’s parked back there,” said Safu, gesturing to the carnival parking lot. At Nezumi’s disgusted look, she answered, “Well, what was I supposed to do? I can’t put a glamour rune on it, and I don’t want it to get towed. Rikiga still hasn’t forgiven you for the last time that happened, by the way.”

Nezumi examined the edge of his blade, as if he were looking for nicks. “He’ll get over it. Come on. Let’s get the Jeep and go back to the Institute. I need a shower.”

Shion examined the surface of the water. The silver waves lapped against the sand, a gentle shushing sound drowning out the cheerful wails of the mundanes in the carnival.

“Are we sure there aren’t any others out in the shallows?” he asked. “We should check.”

Nezumi, who had been wringing ichor and saltwater out of his hair, shot Shion an incredulous look. “Can you breathe underwater? ‘Cause I sure as hell can’t. Besides, those things are solitary hunters. Extremely territorial. That was the only one. Trust me.”

Shion didn’t even think to argue. His parabatai was better versed in dealing with demons in the field. And if Nezumi assured him that the creature they’d fought was the only one, then Shion would believe him.

Inukashi shot Nezumi a disgusted look as he spat another glob of ichor onto the sand. “Could you stop doing that?” They shuddered. “Disgusting.”

Nezumi flashed them a wide grin, his teeth stained black. Shion smiled over at him, as much as he could. He felt unnaturally calm around Nezumi, but he assumed it was due to the fact that they were parabatai. He was unbearably grateful that Nezumi had asked him to participate in the Trial of Fire. Five years ago, Shion never could have dreamed that the thin, rain-soaked boy in the foyer of the Institute would want anything to do with him.

Nezumi’s silver eyes flickered over in Shion’s direction, and Shion felt a surge of warmth shiver through his body. There was something about Nezumi, something indefinitely strange, a hint of wildness that reminded Shion of a typhoon. He could see it in the glorious silver coloration of Nezumi’s irises, the beautiful color he had never seen on any other creature.

Shion watched as Nezumi wandered over toward him. Reaching Shion’s side, Nezumi lifted his hand and brushed a lock of Shion’s white hair out of his face. Shion leaned into the touch, without thinking, and then forced himself to draw away.

Dangerous thoughts, he reminded himself, gazing into his parabatai’s sharp eyes and hearing the sound of Safu and Inukashi’s voices fading out. Completely dangerous.

[imherongraystairstrash]

Its gonna be a hella angst fic but if you want I think a good ff post chit would be Alex first rune

I'm officially obsessed with writing Alex Lightwood! I hope you enjoy reading him as much as I enjoyed figuring him out as a character!

Ao3 link

First Runes

Cecily stood outside for a moment and smiled at the lavender bushes that grew in the backyard. Bees were buzzing around them. They landed occasionally on the flowers, stopping for a moment before drifting off again. The lavender bushes were relatively new; they hadn’t been there in 1903. Cecily bent down and snipped off a couple of branches, smiling serenely as she did so. She tended to the bushes herself, making sure they were watered enough and that there were no weeds growing in close proximity. Even now, she made sure to only snip away at the branches that were growing astray, so that the bushes remained impeccably tidy. 

Despite what one may assume, Cecily was secretly fond of the ones that broke away from the rest. Once she’d sheared off what she deemed to be enough, she went back inside, holding the lavender close to her chest and sniffing its sweet scent as she walked. 

Once inside, she scattered them throughout in different vases of water as she made her way through the house she’d been calling home for over a decade. 

After placing the last of the lavender she’d collected into a vase, she realized she was outside Alexander’s room. Maybe it was her mother’s instinct that inevitably led her here, even though she had intended to come by later. 

The door stood ajar, though Cecily still knocked on it before entering, as a way of announcing her presence, a habit she picked up over the years—Cecily had a naturally light step, which meant she had the tendency to—unintentionally— frighten those around her when she slipped silently into a room. 

“Well, don’t you look handsome.” Cecily said as she walked into the room. She came to stand beside her son Alexander, who had been sitting by the window reading. Upon hearing his mother come into the room, he looked up. Even at only twelve years, Alex had the face of a boy who could grow up to be a heartbreaker, with his ocean blue eyes and hair as dark as the feathers on a crow's wing. He was already wearing the ceremonial red that was associated with the first rune ceremony.

“Now,” Cecily said, sitting beside him, straightening the collar of his shirt. “I don’t want you to be nervous.”

Alex rolled his eyes good-naturedly. “I’m not nervous. I survived half of the first one.”

Cecily gave him a pointed stare. “Don’t joke about that Alex, nothing about that event was in any way funny.”

Alex only shrugged, the way one who didn’t remember such an experience would. Cecily would have been grateful Alex had forgotten about that day, if only she knew it were true. It was years before his recurring nightmares that roused Gabriel and Cecily out of bed ceased. Alex may have stopped crying out in his sleep, but that didn’t exactly mean the nightmares went away; only that Alex may have learned to restrain himself, which didn’t comfort Cecily in the slightest.

“Don’t fret, Mam. I’m not nervous.” Alex’s eyes narrowed. “Why? Are you?”

Cecily looked into his eyes, a mirror of her own. “Of course I’m nervous. A mother always worries about these things.”

Alex patted his mother’s hand with a small grin. “I’ll be alright.”

Cecily only put her arm around him in a half-embrace, squeezing him affectionately. Though Alex was at the age where children usually tend to pull away from any sort of motherly affection, he let Cecily hold him, putting his head on her thin shoulder, which Cecy appreciated. 

As she rubbed circles into his shoulder, she caught sight of what he was reading. 

“Is that the Codex?” she asked. “I despised studying that when I first came to train as a shadowhunter.”

“I’m reading the weapons section.” Alex said. Sure enough, his copy of the Codex—which had once belonged to Gabriel, had a crack in the spine that opened up to the archery section. Cecily knew this crack was newly made, as she was quite familiar with Gabriel’s copy of the Codex from her more youthful years.

Alex was incredibly gifted with the bow, being something of a prodigy with the particular weapon, as he outranked quite an impressive number of grown members of the Enclave in archery, in spite of his young age. But it wasn’t all innate talent however; Alexander may have inherited both the Lightwood gift for archery and Herondale precision for long range weaponry, but he also honed his gift to perfection, training daily for hours to reach perfection. 

Cecily often thought that he was too much like his father: always aspiring to fit the ideal they built for themselves. Cecily never knew how she felt about it; it was an admirable trait, but at the same time, a destructive one. 

“The brothers are here,” Gabriel said, leaning against the doorway. 

Alex practically flung himself off of the window seat, rushing past Gabriel, who shook his head fondly. 

Cecily got up wearily and dusted off her dress, meeting Gabriel by the doorframe. 

The brothers had been unsure of Alexander’s situation. It so rarely happens that someone inscribes a rune on a child, only to be stopped and then for that child to actually survive. They’d thought it better to delay the ceremony a couple of years so that Alexander’s body was stronger. Alex, of course, had not been too pleased by this arrangement, wanting only to be a normal shadowhunter.

“Your cousin Thomas had his rune ceremony at twelve as well,” Gabriel reminded him. “And he’s a perfectly normal shadowhunter.”

Alex didn’t reply, only sulked in true pre-adolescent fashion. 

But finally, Alex had turned twelve, and had not stopped nagging his parents about getting his first rune since the second it was his birthday. Literally. He had woken up his parents at precisely 12:00 am on his twelfth birthday and asked them if he could get his first rune on that very day. Cecily had firmly denied him. 

“I wish he would forget about the rune.” Cecily said one night, a couple of days after Alex had come of age.

“You cannot deny him what his blood sings for,” Gabriel said gently. “Alexander has all of the makings of an incredible warrior; we’d be confining him to a life he could never enjoy. Besides,” Gabriel added, nudging her shoulder with his own. “you were the same; once you got a taste for battle, you couldn’t stifle that part of you.”

Cecily sighed. “I know. I just sometimes wish he obsessed over something less…dangerous. Anna and Christopher never had that intense thirst for battle. Alex came out too much like us.” 

“And if he were any different, he wouldn’t be our Alex.”

Cecily nodded, her lips curling up in a smile. “You’re right, of course. Tell me, when did you become so wise, Gabriel Lightwood?”

Gabriel drew her into his arms. “I suppose it comes with age.”

Cecily grinned up at him and kissed him tenderly. “I suppose it does.”

Now, they were gathered in a small room; Alex sitting on a chair, Gabriel and Cecily standing close by, both trying to look the part of calm and composed parents. There were three Silent brothers present. Brother Cimon, Brother Enoch and Brother Zachariah. Usually, there were only two, but this was a special case and they wanted to be prepared, despite the fact that, unfortunately, there is nothing that can be done to save a child from a rune that rejected them. The real reason they were there was for the parents, though of course, they didn’t mention this to either Gabriel nor Cecily.

After Alex accepted the vows, Brother Cimon held out his thin, long fingered hand for the boy to place his hand in. Alexander did what he was supposed to, his parents tensing behind him. As Brother Cimon took out the stele, Gabriel put one of his hands on his son’s shoulder and held the other one out to Cecily, who clung to it the second it was offered to her. And as Brother Cimon poised the stele over the back of Alex’s hand, the entire room seemed to hold its breath. 

Brother Cimon lowered the stele and began sketching the clairvoyance rune. When Alex suddenly went rigid under his hand, Gabriel could only think one thing: not again.

…

For a millisecond, it didn’t hurt at all. For a millisecond, Alexander Lightwood let himself believe he was a normal shadowhunter. 

But then, there came the agony. Alex had a high tolerance for pain; once he’d broken his hand and only told Cecily three days after it had happened, because it had grown so tense that he couldn’t shoot an arrow from his bow. By then, it had resembled a bird's claw, his fingers bent inwards. His palm was blue and incredibly swollen. Cecily had scolded him, asking him what possessed him to think it was smart to not tell them about his broken hand. Alex had responded by telling her that the brothers would have to cast his hand, and he wouldn't be able to train properly with it. Cecily pressed her lips together, and Alex was sure she was going to strangle him. She didn’t, but her eyes burned with fury. 

“You won’t be able to shoot your damned bow if your hand heals like a bird claw, Alexander Gideon Lightwood. I cannot understand why you put so much pressure on yourself to train that you can’t see through an injury that could last until your dying day because it didn’t heal properly. Have you any idea what it’s like for your hand to scream in pain every time you strike with any combat weapon?”

Alex pressed his lips together. “I could handle it.”

Cecily sighed, muttering something that sounded an awful lot like “you’re just like your father.” before summoning the Silent Brothers.

So yes, Alex could endure pain better than most, all thanks to his willpower. But not even willpower could distract Alex from the excruciating pain on his hand. Suddenly, he was thrust back in time. Instead of Brother Cimon's face, it was his aunt Tatiana’s, looking down at him in malice, a manic grin on her face as he withered in pain, begging her to stop. 

This time, however, Alex clamped his mouth shut, biting into his bottom lip until he drew blood. His senses dimmed; he knew his mother was rushing towards him. That Brother Cimon withdrew the stele, having completed the rune. He could taste the coppery tang of blood in his mouth. But all of that was passive to the pain. It felt like his skin was burning from the inside; white hot fire traveling through his bloodstream, scorching his organs. At some point, he had tilted his head upwards, looking at the ceiling. He felt someone press kisses to his forehead, while his father fired question after question at the brothers. Is he going to be alright? What’s happening to him? Will he survive?

The last thing he heard was his mother whispering that she loved him very very much, before he slipped under. 

…

Alex opened his eyes groggily. He was dimly aware of his parents, huddled in a corner with Anna and Ari speaking in quiet murmurs. He turned his head so that he was looking straight up at the roof. He blinked a couple of times, looking at nothing and thinking of nothing. 

Then he remembered. He lifted his right hand and gazed at the clairvoyance rune, stark against his pale skin. It looked nice, Alex thought to himself. Like his left hand had always been missing something, and now it finally looked right.

“Alex?” Ari said. 

The rest all turned at the exact same time. Alex lifted a hand in salute, not quite sure what else to do.

Cecily rushed over to him, kneeling down by his bedside. She put a hand to his forehead, feeling his temperature. 

“How do you feel?” She asked. 

“Fine,” Alex said, though it came out as a whisper. His voice was sore, as if he’d been screaming. He hoped for his parents' sake he hadn’t. 

Cecily pressed her forehead to his own. “Oh, thank the angel you’re alive.”

She pulled away, her blue eyes searched his, darting back and forth as if to find some sign of distress. Alex put his hand over hers, to reassure her that he truly was alright, before glancing up and seeing his father standing behind Cecily, having come up silently without Alex noticing. He had crow’s feet at the corners of his eyes. He looked so tired, Alex thought. Like he was being drained. 

Gabriel smiled at him, though. As he leaned forward, resting a hand on Cecily’s shoulder, he said to Alex, “Alexandros, defender of men. You are now officially a shadowhunter.”

Alex grinned though Cecily scowled at him. “He was already a shadowhunter,” she said, before turning back to Alex.

Gabriel only winked at Alexander behind Cecily’s back. Alex had always felt that his father understood him; his ambitions, his dreams. His father always said what he needed to hear, and that was something Alex had always cherished. 

“Anna,” Alex said, looking behind his parents, “You came to visit. And you brought your better half.” He said with a grin at Ari, who beamed back at him. 

Anna rolled her eyes fondly. “Alex, you really are something, aren’t you? Also, your voice sounds like it’s been through a battlefield. I think you should consider a spoonful of honey.”

Alex shrugged, “As long as it’s not Mam’s ginger tea.” 

“What’s wrong with my ginger tea?” Cecily demanded.

“You put too much ginger!” Alex said, “it’s like swallowing fire.”

Cecily looked around for support, but received none: Anna and Gabriel looked away, trying to avoid meeting her gaze.

“It’s more effective that way.” She said defensively.

“More effective in murdering the consumer,” Alex said before adding hastily, “I love you, Mam, but your ginger tea is brutal.”

Cecily only shook her head. “Nevermind. I suppose I appreciate knowing it is too strong."

Anna shook her head and mouthed to Alex only because you’re the youngest, to which Alex replied with a smug shrug of his shoulders. 

...

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[tetsunabouquet]

Heir To The Lands Chapter 13

Fading Away Masterpost

Jaime Rosales sighed as he waited for the pink goblin to show up. She usually did about this hour, and as delusional as she was, Jaime found her harmless and kind. Besides, it was the best thing around here in his cell, as neither the silence or the Queen were things he enjoyed. She often snuck in some extra food for him too, which was appreciated. He didn't even needed to look into a mirror to know he lost some weight during his captivity. The first time when he was imprisoned, it had only been a month and didn't had as much time to turn him into a shell of what he was. But this time, he felt like he was sure on his way to becoming that exact thing. Looking down at his skin, it was growing paler, a sickly yellowish pale that was starved of the sun. He felt a small wave of relief as he heard the familiar sound of small feet. There, the pink goblin snuck through his bars, bearing a big basket, well, big for her small size, that could barely fit through the bars. "I collected as many as Yaya apples as I could find." She chirped, and Jaime's stomach growled at the mention. He was developping quite a liking to the fey apples. She took an apple out of the basket, the fruit being almost the size of her head, and she handed the mint green fruit to Jaime, who took a bite eagerly. It was juicy, and Jaime tried to spill as little as possible. The queen made sure to give him as little water as she gave him food, and he was fairly certain he would have died from hydration had it not been for the juices of the fruit he was so frequently fed behind her back. "You truly are a lifesaver Gwenneth." He told her, and she smiled at the compliment. "Truly, I am! If I were too unkind of a being, mundanes would never come to worship me!" She declared and Jaime bit back every comment that came to his mind. He did not know, how Gwenneth came to be as fame hungry or how she knew so much about mundane media in the first place. Those were the tiny little myserteries he occupied himself with, as he had nothing else to do. "Now that you mention it, what would you rather want? To break out on TV or hit the big screen?" Gwenneth was genuinely surprised with the question, and took a moment to think it over. "Both have their pros and cons, you know? Big screen obviously has a superior reach and salary, but small screen for one offers me the durability of promo, considering big roles are featured most of the season's episodes. With someone of my caliber, I can skip the extra stage and have a role. I'm above a poorly created CGI monstrosity." Jaime was impressed with the goblin, not knowing what the heck CGI even was himself. If she ever were to release an autobiography, Jaime for sure would pick it up just to find out where she got all her information about the mundane world from, because she seemed as well-versed about various mundane topics as an actual mundane. Sometimes, Jaime thought that once her impossible dreams leave her heartbroken, she should start teaching at the Shadowhunters Academy. Her knowledge and understanding of mundanes would certainly make her a good teacher for Nephilim kids to blend in with the regulars of the world. But he always refrained from saying it out loud, too nervous to offend the creature because there was one thing Jaime was also noticing about his deteroriating state. He was fairly certain he was growing mad in isolation.

Livvy, knowing the route, had found the castle and its prison within a jiffy this time. Which made her miserable first time drifting as a ghost in Faerie a whole lot better. This time, having to study Jaime, it hit her just how gaunt and pale he looked, as well as the poorly kept small beard he had developped. He hadn't aged too much since the age he had gone missing, but still, the poor look was aging him quite a bit, and she wondered if the queen even bothered to take enough care of him to keep him alive. But then again, that would be the smarter thing to do, right? Kill Jaime and get rid of his body and thus all the evidence that the queen was up to no good. Perhaps she had already gotten what she wanted from him, and was simply leaving him to rot in the dungeons. That thought was so cruel, it left an awful taste in Livvy's mouth. At least she knew what the goblin wanted. She had never been more grateful for being an L.A girl more in that very moment.

[sandylee007]

'Mamma Mia!' part 2 sneak peek 1

Magnus was rapidly losing the last of his patience. “Do I look like I’m interested in talking to you?” He began to walk away because what point would there have been in staying? “Just stay away from me. The less interaction we have this week the better.”

“Magnus, please.” (Why did Alec’s pleading voice still have an impact on him?) “Why I did... what I did... Let me explain.”

Magnus twirled around, too outraged to control his temper. “That day broke me! I don’t want to hear your pathetic excuses! What part of ‘leave me alone’ don’t you get?”

Magnus had been right beside the pool, which served to increase his anxiety. While emotions raged his balance broke. Alec grabbed his hand to stop him from falling and they both ended up stumbling to the water.

[thranduilland]

WIP Word search game

I got tagged by @meadowziplines with the words cat, sky, star, water, cry, arm(s)

snippers under the cut

Cat (strangers to lovers, Dream was Eleanor)

“Destiny thinks we should be reacquainted,” Dream says, shifting into her cat form and scurrying up the tree to perch on the branch beside the goddess. “He would not say why.”

Sky (Hob is Irmo from Tolkien Legendarium)

“Hmm, not quite as I intended, but this form will do you well,” he says, as Gault sparkles before him, swirling with the colours and the beauty of one of Varda’s galaxies. Springing from Gault’s back are a pair of thin, delicate wings that glisten like the stars in the night sky. “There you are, my dear. A dream of better things,” Gault furrows a brow, before slowly opening her eyes, looking down at her new form. The tears that fall from her eyes glow like the dew of Laurelin once had, oh so long ago.

Star (Hob summons the King of Dreams to demand he keep his nightmares in check)

“Look at me, little one,” the Dream Lord says, Jessamy doesn’t really want to, but she knows you’re supposed to listen to your elders, so she sighs and does as he asks, anyway. When she meets his eyes, they aren’t the glowing blue they’d been earlier, but the star filled black they’d been in her dream the night before. She wonders which are his actual eyes, or if they both are. “It is understandable to be afraid of something that has already proven capable of hurting you. To mistrust a situation that you already know can be unsafe. But I will not allow harm to come to you tonight. I will not always be able to keep watch over your dreams, but tonight, I have no other matters to attend to. I will keep you safe.”

Water (Shadowhunter Hob)

“Like a dragonidae’s chew toy,” she answers, her breaths ragged. “How are the others?” she asks, his hand stilling for a moment, before he sucks in a breath and places the cloth back in the bowl of water on the bedside table.

Cry (Hob summons the King of Dreams to demand he keep his nightmares in check)

“Alright,” Hob says, as Dream turns his attention to him and raises an eyebrow. “I assume you aren’t going to be able to sit yourself up without help?” Hob asks, raising his own eyebrow, Dream makes a face. “That’s what I thought,” Hob says, picking up Morph from where the little plush raven had still been resting on his chest. Hob chucks the raven at Jessamy, who catches it with an aggrieved cry.

Arms (Hob gets possessed by a demon at the 1989 meeting)

“Oh, god, no. Please.” Hob exclaims, clenching his eyes shut even as tears spill. He’s had nightmares about this, too. Where his stranger comes back and rescues him and cares for him and-and then the demon takes back control and- no. “God. Please, no,” he pleads, pinching his arms and his face as hard as he can. “Wake up. Wake up. Wake up.”

Not gonna tag anyone, but you're welcome to do it if you want to.

Your words: survival, kiss, stab, cage, help, love

[princesslightgiggles]

A Day of Surprises

It all started innocently enough. Magnus and Alec had been enjoying a quiet morning in bed, wrapped in each other's arms. Magnus had trailed his fingers lightly down Alec’s legs as he got up to get a glass of water and when he reached Alec’s feet, the Shadowhunter had jerked back, a startled giggle escaping his lips.

“Interesting,” Magnus had purred, a mischievous glint in his eyes.

Magnus struck and Alec’s reaction was immediate and uncontrollable, his body spasming at the sensation. He tried to pull away, but Magnus had him pinned, his deft fingers dancing across Alec’s sensitive soles.

“Magnus, stop!” Alec had begged between helpless laughter.

Ever since that morning, Magnus couldn’t resist the temptation to use a little magic to tickle Alec’s feet at the most unexpected moments. Alec, for his part, found himself in a constant state of nervous anticipation, trying to go about his day without revealing his secret.

---

At the Institute, Alec was deep in conversation with Isabelle and Jace about the latest demon activity. He leaned over the map spread out on the table, pointing out potential locations.

“And if we position ourselves here, we can—” Alec’s voice caught in his throat as a tingle spread across his feet. He stifled a gasp, his cheeks flushing.

Isabelle raised an eyebrow. “Are you okay, Alec?”

Alec nodded vigorously, trying to maintain his composure. “Yes, yes, I’m fine. Just… just a muscle spasm” he said, frantically stamping his foot.

Jace smirked. “Maybe you need to relax more, brother. You’ve been too tense lately.”

Alec forced a smile, but as the magical tickles intensified, he couldn’t help but shift from foot to foo and squirming in place, biting his lip to keep from laughing. He knew Magnus was behind this, and he silently vowed to get his revenge.

---

Throughout the day, the magical tickles would come and go. During training, Alec nearly dropped his seraph blade when an unexpected burst of tickling made him yelp. During a strategy meeting with Clary and Simon, he had to excuse himself, claiming he had to make an urgent call. He found a quiet spot in the building to wait for the tickling to stop and compose himself. If anyone had seen him giggling and cursing to himself while desperately rubbing at his feet to try and make the sensation stop; they would have thought him quite mad.

When the tickling stopped, Alec sighed in relief. But he knew Magnus well enough to expect another round soon.

---

Finally, after what felt like the longest day in history, Alec returned to the loft. Magnus was lounging on the couch, a book in hand, looking every bit the picture of innocence.

“Hello, darling,” Magnus greeted with a playful smile. “Rough day?”

Alec dropped his bag and crossed the room, his eyes narrowed. “You know exactly how my day was.”

Magnus’s smile widened. “Oh? And how was that?”

In a flash, Alec lunged, pinning Magnus to the couch. Magnus’s eyes widened in surprise, and before he could react, Alec’s fingers found their way to Magnus’s hips.

“Let’s see how you like it,” Alec said, his voice low with determination.

Magnus’s reaction was immediate and explosive. He burst into laughter, squirming helplessly beneath “Alexander, wait! Mercy!”

Alec’s fingers were relentless, tickling Magnus’s most sensitive spot. “Not so fun when it’s you, is it?”

Magnus’s laughter was contagious, filling the room with a joyous sound. He wriggled and tried to escape, but Alec was relentless, enjoying his moment of revenge.

Finally, when Magnus was breathless and tears of laughter streamed down his face, Alec relented, collapsing beside him on the couch.

“You’re a terrible man, Alexander,” Magnus gasped, still giggling.

Alec grinned, brushing a stray tear from Magnus’s cheek. “And you’re incorrigible. But I love you anyway.”

Magnus snuggled closer, a contented sigh escaping his lips. “I love you too, my ticklish Shadowhunter.”

They stayed like that, tangled together, the earlier annoyances of the day forgotten in the warmth of their shared laughter and love.

[deadcityhq]

**CHARACTER NAME:** leonor “leo” estrada 

**CHARACTER FACECLAIM:** roberta colindrez

**CHARACTER AGE/DOB (if relevant/they’re not old af):** the exact amount of years has gotten away from her, she only knows that she’s roughly around two hundred years old. she remembers ‘our lady of monterrey’ being built. 

**CHARACTER PRONOUNS/GENDER IDENTITY/SEXUALITY ETC:** she/her | cis woman, of the butch persuasion | lesbian

**CHARACTER FANDOM (if relevant):** oc

**OC OR CANON:** oc

**CHARACTER TYPE (for example: werewolf, shadowhunter, warlock, demon etc):** vampire

**HOW LONG HAVE THEY BEEN IN NEW YORK/WHY ARE THEY THERE ETC:** leo arrived in the seventies, looking for people like her- in multiple respects.

**IMPORTANT CHARACTER INFORMATION TO NOTE AND SHARE (this could be important headcanons for initial plotting, mini bios etc, supporting docs):** 

her actual bio doc is gonna get Bananas so please enjoy these bullet points- 

born roughly in the mid 1700s in monterrey, nueva leon. most of her pre-immortality life has been carefully locked away in the ol’ mind vault, but she remembers the cathedral being halfway built as a young child. she remembers her family’s leather works shop, but not her parents. she remembers her grandmother’s portrait on the ofrenda. and she remembers seeing the face of her sire for the first time. 

leo was somewhere around her mid-thirties (she thinks?) when it happened. the circumstances are lost to her, but the feeling she had, seeing the lunar glow of her face and the inky dark of her hair swirling around her face… even now feels like a pin through her chest, or an anchor. 

the time immediately after is completely lost to her, roughly forty to fifty years. leo likes to think it’s of her own volition, but sometimes she fears someone or something took those memories from her on purpose. leo hardly remembers her sire’s name, besides a vague number of letters and perhaps a starting letter of ‘m’ or ‘w’. 

the next clearest recollections she has are in virginia city, nevada. a hardy mining town at the time. leo grew to like little boom towns like that, where being awake after dark was standard for the exhausted workers who hoped to numb their minds and suit their pleasures after the backbreaking labor of the day. 

which didn’t mean it all worked out perfectly. there were plenty of humans and mortals that leo developed a distaste for. it was hard not to, when the place leo liked to have a drink was the saloon where virginia city’s hardest-working madam housed her girls. there were plenty of averagely evil men drifting in and out. leo liked to keep an eye on them. 

keeping this kind of eye out meant that there were times when some men proved they needed to get taken care of. leo made herself a pair of boots she still has in her closet that way. but eventually one too well-connected ended up meeting his maker that way, and leo found herself ran out of town. she supposed in the end that she’d gotten a little too careless. 

she never considered herself in all that dire of straits, the western territories had plenty of places to hide. or– perhaps not hide, but exist without the sort of questioning or accusations that might make her existence significantly more difficult. big sky country was large, and got fucking dark as hell at night. 

of course safety or what counted for it didn’t quite match what she’d started to yearn for again. others like her. eventually, this brought her to new york city in the 1970s. 

initially ‘living’ in the village, in the present she’s moved farther down 8th and currently has a one-bed in st. mark’s place. 

**THREE AESTHETICS THAT REMIND YOU OF YOUR CHARACTER:** well-worn cowboy boots, the saying “still waters run deep”, the smell of a campfire and warm wool on a cold montana night. 

OOC INFORMATION: 

**MUN NAME/ALIAS:** jesse

**MUN AGE:** 30

**MUN TRIGGERS:** n/a

[bloodieash]

Hello, Oc Bingo buddy it is I @endless-oc-creations here to ask you five questions!

What inspired you to create your ocs Maddie Foxblood and Elle Ravencross?

2. What can you tell me more about them?

3. Do they have a love interest? If so what's your favorite thing about their relationship?

4. Who are their close friends?

5. Do you have a line from one of your wips you want to share?

Have an amazing day!

1.) So because Maddie was a remake of Juliet O'Riley her inspiration would technically be a picture on pinterest describing the differences between sirens and mermaids... how one is made by a love of water and the other is created by violent deaths in the water but as Maddie moved away from the siren thing (and I would one day really like to write a siren based off of said post) the inspiration for the two of them together became Clary's line about Jace and Johnathan being opposite ends of the same experiment. 2.) Oh I have a lot of random facts about Maddie and Elle that are still coming together, but here are a few I know for sure. On the experiment front Elle is the Angel while Maddie is the Demon. When Elle dies the way that Maddie brought her back was by triggering (through their parabatai bond) the angel blood in Elle bringing her back and kicking her healing into over drive. This cost Maddie all but her parabatai rune. Maddie can still be runed now, but they don't last. 3.) So I suck at writing romance so in the actual fic it may not show up as well as in my head, but I do have ships for both of them. 3a.) Elle is head over heels for Izzy. And probably my favorite thing about their relationship is the fact Elle studied science just to impress Izzy. Like here is a girl who is better at social studies and history and she's just like I'm going to learn everything I can about science just 'cause Izzy likes science. The thing is she does actually know a lot about weapons and could have just as easily used that, but she chose learning something new. 3b.) And Maddie is shipped with Jace. The thing I love about them is just how incredibly soft they are together. The way I see them in my head is just soooooo soft. 4.) First and foremost they are each others' best friends. 4a.) Elle also made a few friends while she was stationed in Athens, specifically Mari Stormshade who was there with her when she died. Though, if asked, she'd still say she's closer to the Lightwoods. 4b.) Maddie while exiled to mundane society she was throwing herself at every shadow world thing she could find in the hopes of running into Elle or anyone else really so she wound up doing things (mostly translating texts and stuff of that nature) for Camille which threw her in close proximity of Raphael. They schemed to oust Camille together and if asked Maddie would say he's her closest friend besides Elle. 5.) maybe a couple even if I haven't officially written them down yet. 5a.) "You need to be careful of the Shadowhunters Clary." Maddie warned her voice low. "They have a sink or swim mentality." Clary scoffed. What was that supposed to mean? "And how would you know?" All Maddie had done since Clary had met the shadowhunters was disappear. Even the night Clary's mom had been taken Maddie hadn't been there, but the Shadowhunters had been. "I drowned!" 5b.) "Tell them what you said." Clary's voice was low, dangerous. Maddie wasn't sure what message she was trying to get across, but she knew she wouldn't like it. "Tell them what you said in the other world!" Maddie's skin itched at the order and her jaw clenched. "I said a lot of things Clary. We were there for over twelve hours." "'I've been in love with you since I was ten years old.'" Clary pitched her voice in a mock of Maddie's. Maddie went cold. She knew which conversation Clary was referring to. How much had she heard? Did she know who Maddie had been talking to? Maddie swallowed thickly, but she refused to yield. She could already see Elle, Jace, Izzy, and Alec watching the argument like a sports match of some kind. She couldn't let them know. Couldn't let him know. Not about this. "Half of what I said Clary wasn't even me. Are you telling me you didn't feel it? The other you trying to reassert herself. Trying to take back the life you invaded?" "'We can't do this. You can't do this Jace. Not if you're not serious.'" Clary continued one. Tears pricked at Maddie's eyes, but she refused to shed them.

[queerstuffonscreen]

Shadowhunters (2016-2019)

Episode length: 39-60 min.

Country: USA

Genre: Supernatural, Fantasy, Action, Adventure

Language: English

When Clary Fray's mother has disappeared, Clary joins a band of Shadowhunters; demon killing hunters, and gets caught up in a plan to save the world.

Season 1

Episode 1: The Mortal Cup

Episode 2: The Descent Into Hell Isn't Easy

Episode 3: Dead Man's Party

Episode 4: Raising Hell

Episode 5: Moo Shu to Go

Episode 6: Of Men and Angels

Episode 7: Major Arcana

Episode 8: Bad Blood

Episode 9: Rise Up

Episode 10: This World Inverted

Episode 11: Blood Calls to Blood

Episode 12: Malec

Episode 13: Morning Star

Season 2

Part 1

Episode 1: This Guilty Blood

Episode 2: A Door Into the Dark

Episode 3: Parabatai Lost

Episode 4: Day of Wrath

Episode 5: Dust, and Shadows

Episode 6: Iron Sisters

Episode 7: How Are Thou Fallen

Episode 8: Love is a Devil

Episode 9: Bound by Blood

Episode 10: By the Light of Dawn

Part 2

Episode 11: Mea Maxima Culpa

Episode 12: You Are Not Your Own

Episode 13: Those of Demon Blood

Episode 14: The Fair Folk

Episode 15: A Problem of Memory

Episode 16: Day of Atonement

Episode 17: A Dark Reflection

Episode 18: Awake, Arise, or Be Forever Fallen

Episode 19: Hail and Farewell

Episode 20: Beside Still Water

Season 3

Part 1

Episode 1: On Infernal Ground

Episode 2: The Powers That Be

Episode 3: What Lies Beneath

Episode 4: Thy Soul Instructed

Episode 5: Stronger Than Heaven

Episode 6: A Window Into an Empty Room

Episode 7: Salt in the Wound

Episode 8: A Walk in Darkness

Episode 9: Familia Ante Omnia

Episode 10: Erchomai

Part 2: The Final Hunt

Episode 11: Lost Souls

Episode 12: Original Sin

Episode 13: Beati Bellicosi

Episode 14: A Kiss from a Rose

Episode 15: To the Night Children

Episode 16: Stay With Me

Episode 17: Heavenly Fire

Episode 18: The Beast Within

Episode 19: Aku Cinta Kamu

Episode 20: City of Glass

Episode 21: Alliance

Episode 22: All Good Things...

Watch on Netflix

[malec-ao3feed]

The Curse of Heavenly Fire

read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/HIrmAzV by Sandylee007 What if Magnus never found out about the Sword? What if the Angel didn’t turn down Valentine’s wish in its entirety? And what if no one managed to stop him from destroying the whole Downworld? Alec faces the absolutely worst one of his nightmares as Magnus dies in his arms, and can’t seem to wake up from it.   A MEAN LITTLE ‘WHAT IF’ (where things may or may not be as they seem) Words: 1999, Chapters: 1/1, Language: English Fandoms: Shadowhunters (TV) Rating: Teen And Up Audiences Warnings: Creator Chose Not To Use Archive Warnings Categories: M/M Characters: Alec Lightwood, Magnus Bane, Isabelle Lightwood, Valentine Morgenstern Relationships: Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood Additional Tags: Episode: s02e20 Beside Still Water, Drama, Angst, Love, Loss, Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Sad Alec Lightwood, Sad Magnus Bane/Alec Lightwood, Guilt, Ambiguous/Open Ending read it on AO3 at https://ift.tt/HIrmAzV

[antikristvs]

Shadowhunters (S2, Ep. 20)

[bluephoenixdruidicprincess]

Shadowhunters Season 2 Episode 20 Beside Still Water Review

Forewarning: I had a lot of issues with this episode. There will be negative opinions about the show, particularly its writing. If you think this is the best show ever and don’t want to hear negative things about this show, this is not the review for you. DO NOT READ. If you’re rude or try to belittle me in any way, you will be ignored.

It’s finally happened. The Shadowhunters Season 2 Finale, Beside Still Water, has premiered. And how do I feel about this episode? Honestly, it was about as good as it could manage with what it had going on and with how the writers like to write. I’ll be real with you guys, whereas I appreciate that the show upped the production value with this episode and made it look really nice, I found it completely ridiculous. There were very few moments within the episode that made any actual sense.

This is going to be an honest review of my thoughts and feelings regarding this episode. If you’re the kind of Shadowhunters fan where you only want to hear positive things about the show, this is not the place for you. If you decide to stick around and get offended by what is said, then that’s on you. I warned you. Just know that if you send me any rude comments or messages, I will 100% ignore you. I find that’s the best way to deal with bullies. I work 14 hour days. Do you really think I want to waste my incredibly valuable free time dealing with derogatory comments? Hell no. This review will consist of my honest opinions. Opinions are never right or wrong. I’m not telling you how to think and feel. I’m telling you what I think and feel. So please, let’s discuss with dignity and respect. If I’m critical about the show, it’s only because I want it to get better. There is, in fact, a difference between hating a show and being critical of it. I do not hate Shadowhunters; I am being critical and analyzing the flaws as I would with any other show. There are positives but there are also negatives. It’s great if you want to promote positivity with this show (and I encourage you to do so) but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t acknowledge the things that are legitimately wrong with it. Also, keep in mind that despite the fact that I do love the books, me being critical of this show has nothing to do with my love of the books. I don’t really care if the show deviates from the source material as long as it’s good and it makes sense. My problems with this show are problems that I would have with any show or book for that matter. I think it’s perfectly reasonable to take issue with a show that has plot holes, shoddy world-building and inconsistent characters. There will be spoilers for the books and movies.

The show went back to its roots in this episode. The ridiculous and nonsensical writing. It actually surprised me a little on how many issues I had with this episode. It’s been a while since I had seen so many blatant logic issues in these episodes. They used to pop up all the time but the past few episodes, while illogical moments did exist, you probably wouldn’t pick up on them unless you were paying really close attention. But in this episode, they were everywhere. I guess the show was making up for lost time. It was kind of disheartening because they were hyping the hell out of this episode and I found it to be just, ”meh” in terms of actual storytelling. This episode was all over the place. It didn’t really feel like a season finale. It felt like something they threw together because they realized they were at a finale point. There were plenty of moments that felt out of place, additions that didn’t really need to be there -- in essence, I found this script to be a total mess. We had a bunch of different storylines that didn’t really connect with each other. Maia being kidnapped by the seelies didn’t have a whole lot to do with the stuff at Lake Lynn or the demons flying around NYC. The demons flying around NYC didn’t have a whole lot to do with the things happening at Lake Lynn or the seelie court. Writing like this may be acceptable during a typical season episode but the point of a finale is that it’s a culmination of everything that happened during that season and this episode, in my opinion didn’t really reflect that. Still better than the first season finale, don’t get me wrong. And when I say this episode was ridiculous, it was still better than any Season 1 episode for sure. It hadn’t reached that level of ridiculousness. 

I’d say about 90% of my shadowhunters notes for this episode was just a list of things that didn’t make sense. There were a couple of moments that I liked but ultimately, there were a lot more things wrong with this episode than there were right. I’m going to be approaching this review a little differently than I usually do. It’s really just me going down the list of my notes and talking about things.

The Good

As always, I’ll start out with the good so people won’t get on the hate train first thing. I actually do like this show. In every episode, there’s always moments I do enjoy. But with this episode, there were moments that I enjoyed but there was always something in the scene that bothered me. So a lot of things that are in the “Good” pile are also going to end up in the “Bad” pile.

When Clary and Jace decide to take a portal to Lake Lynn to stop Valentine, Alec tells Jace to be careful and he responds with, “When am I ever not careful.” Oh, how I miss Jace snark. It wasn’t perfect but it’s about as good as we’ll get with this writing. As much as I would like to see Jace snarky to the levels he’s at in the books, I’ve just had to accept that the writers don’t feel the same way so I’ll take what little snark I can get.

I loved the parabatai sequence when Jace died. It was really great. Just the way Matt Daddario was acting it out was really heart breaking to watch and the montage of flashbacks was really nice. It was nice to have this visual moment where you can see what Alec is losing in that moment. It was great to see that as Jace is dying, Alec is losing the center of his being. Clary also had a really great moment. She looked like she was destroyed in that scene. Really, Jace’s entire death sequence was very nicely acted. I’ve seen a lot of the fandom complain about how they didn’t like that Alec wasn’t breaking down and crying. That he was just sitting there and staring. To those people, I will remind them that people are individuals who feel things differently. People deal with death differently. To better explain Alec’s scenario, I’m going to reveal a very personal story about myself. When I was 15, my best friend was killed by a stray bullet in a police shootout. I didn’t witness it or anything. But when my friend’s parents came to my house to break the news to me, in that moment when they told me that my best friend was dead, I didn’t cry. I couldn’t. I couldn’t FEEL anything.  I was in shock. I don’t know how long I was sitting on that couch. Time just seemed to stop for me in that moment. I was awake and conscious but my brain had completely shut down from registering anything. Eventually, my parents walked me to my bedroom. I think they had left to fix me a snack or something. But anyways, I was in my room sitting on my bed, my mind just completely blank and then something made me start to look around my room. I don’t know why but I moved to my desk and just above my desk is this little cork bulletin board. And this cork bulletin board had these pictures of me and my friend doing this improv acting skit. Me and my friend were taking this improvisational acting class at the time. I saw these pictures and that’s what was needed to push me out of the shock. I saw those pictures and it hit me. I was never going to go to an improv acting class with Sara again. She’s gone and she’s not coming back and I completely broke down in tears in that moment. My parents came rushing to me and comforting me but I cried for probably a good hour. My point with this incredibly personal and painful story is that in this moment, I don’t interpret Alec not being broken up about Jace being dead. I interpret him as going into this state of shock where you can’t feel anything. All you can do is just sit there. I know. I’ve experienced it firsthand. For Alec, the very center of his universe is gone. He has no idea what to do, what this means for him, he’s completely lost. Even if this isn’t the case and it wasn’t the director’s intent to be showing this as a state of shock, I can still further defend this. Shadowhunters, as a people, deal with death differently. For them, it’s a known fact that they’re probably going to die, that the death probably won’t be from natural causes, and it’s probably going to happen while they’re young. They accept this fate. It’s a sacrifice they accept for the power and responsibility they have. They accept death as this natural thing that happens with the lives they lead. When death does happen, I feel like they would internalize it a lot. Whereas someone like Clary, who openly cried at Jace’s death, has lived a mundane’s life. She hasn’t really come to terms with this aspect of the shadow world. The true sacrifice that shadowhunters make. That sometimes people die and there’s nothing you can do about it. She doesn’t really understand that because she hasn’t lived in a culture where that’s taught. But yeah, I love the characterization for Jace’s death scene. It was very well played. However, I don’t like the reason for why this scene happened and I’ll be talking about that in the “Bad” category. 

I enjoyed the Clizzy interaction as well. That was a really nice moment between them. As much as I don’t like how they just immediately became friends; it’s weird to me that Izzy would be best buddies right at the beginning with Clary when she knows nothing about her, whether or not she should be trusted, etc, but maybe I just have more of an Alec personality than an Izzy personality. And considering how quickly she trusted Sebastian/Jonathon, maybe that isn’t that big of a stretch? I appreciate the show for creating a healthy female friendship that is very rarely seen in TV these days. Clizzy has a nice friendship chemistry that I do enjoy. I don’t want the show to ever go so far as to make Clizzy a romantic couple because then we would lose all of this. What it means for two women to have a healthy friendship with each other. They never tear each other down or are unnecessarily mean to the other. This is a rare thing to find in TV these days and I don’t want the show to lose this. I also would much prefer that if Clary does get a parabatai, that it be Izzy and not Simon. See guys? I don’t agree with every writing decision in the books. 

There was a nice exchange with Malec but this scene is also going to end up in my bad list as well. I did like that Magnus says, “A wise man once said relationships takes effort.” And I like that little call back. I also like that Alec responds with, “That was an understatement.” They also shared a sweet little kiss at the end but that’s about all I have to say on the positive spectrum regarding this scene. You’ll hear more about it in the “Bad” list. 

I’m not really sure which category this actually belongs in but I’m just going to casually remark on this. The part where Clary asks Jace why he didn’t tell Alec the truth that he was actually dead. A lot of the fandom seemed to have an issue with this. That Jace doesn’t trust Alec enough with this information. I can certainly see how that might be interpreted but that wasn’t how I interpreted it. For me, Jace doesn’t tell Alec about it not out of a sense of distrust, he doesn’t tell Alec because he doesn’t want to hurt Alec. For those few moments, Alec genuinely believed Jace was dead (and Jace actually was) and Jace doesn’t want that thought to burden Alec. You can say Jace did it out of a distrust for him but until that’s revealed in canon, I’m going to believe that he did it from a need to protect Alec from a horrifying truth. Is it going to bite him in the ass later? Most certainly but it’s the thought that counts. 

Also, Drunk Luke is awesome. I’m just saying. I never realized how much I needed to see a drunk Luke until I got it so I really enjoyed that moment of him just kicking back and enjoying life. I hope he finds someone special in the next season. I’m low-key shipping him and Maryse right now. I feel like they have a lot they could bond over while their relationship with each other being just complicated enough to create interesting conflicts.

It seems like the show is going completely off the books with Simon’s storyline and that’s not really a bad thing. I’m curious to see where it’s heading. They could take it in really interesting directions especially since they don’t have any source material with this to be bogging them down. 

There was some hardcore foreshadowing for City of Fallen Angels material here, too. Stuff is going down with Jace and what I presume to be Lillith. It’ll be interesting to see what they do with the second half of The Mortal Instruments material. I love The Mortal Instruments in its entirety but I do have a fondness for the second half more than the first. City of Glass is still my favorite of the 6 books but I feel like the second half heads into a lot more interesting directions which will be easier for the show to adapt. The first half is good but also very singular. It’s very contained but not always in a good way because that kind of containment has a tendency to throw the pacing off a little. A lot more stuff happens in the second half and it’ll definitely give the writers more breathing room and material that’s easier to spin as they like to do. Also, I had this weird theory at the end of this episode when we see what I believe is meant to be Lilith approaching Jonathon’s dead body. Wouldn’t it be interesting if Lilith were to take the form of Jocelyn? I’m not saying Jocelyn is Lilith. But it would be interesting if Lilith took the shape of Jocelyn. She believes she’s technically Jonathon’s mother so it stands to reason that she would want to take the form of Jonathon’s mother. Not to mention, the conflict it would create with Clary and Luke seeing this person they once loved walking around but yet it not be the person they wish it to be. It could be really interesting. I’d enjoy seeing that.

The Bad

Ok. Time to head into this territory. I’m going to preface this with again, these are my opinions. I’m not telling you how to think and feel. I’m telling you what I think and feel. If you want to discuss this, we can. However, I will not respond to any rude or mean comments. If you really want to state your opinion on this, be nice about it or what’s the point? You’re not going to get a reaction from me so why waste your time saying mean things when a respectful comment is going to get you further? Not to mention, I’ll probably laugh at you as well. I’ve found during my time in the fandom that those who leave rude and disrespectful comments also say really dumb shit in the aforementioned comment as well. So even more reason for me to not take you seriously. Let’s get on with this. The list of things I didn’t like as well as things that just didn’t make sense in general. 

So Maia is talking with the Seelie Queen and she eventually decides she’s had enough and tries to run off. Maia’s felled by one vine and immediately gives up. That was weird to me that Maia would give up just like that. I feel like Maia is a little more fiery than this. She wouldn’t let one vine stop her. She has three other limbs to use. Not to mention, SHE CAN TURN INTO A FREAKING WEREWOLF! I guess there were thorns in the vine but I still expected her to put up a much bigger fight than she did.

A demon starts flying around NYC and Izzy suspects from one little red dot that it’s some sort of wraith demon? How does she know that? That one red dot looked exactly like the others. And then we had the fight sequence in the NYC streets. And I always find it laughable when I see Alec, Jace, Izzy … and Clary running down the street on one of these demon slaying missions. Why would you take Clary on this? Surely there are more experienced shadowhunters you’d prefer to take? Especially since you don’t know what kind of demon it is. Clary might not be equipped to handle it. But I guess, theoretically, all of the other shadowhunters are scouring the city trying to find Jonathon because he fell in the water in the previous episode. I didn’t even talk about it in the previous episode, but why did they let his body fall into the water in the first place? There was no reason for it other than to be dramatic. It was so stupid. But also in this scene where they’re tracking down this demon, I couldn’t help but notice that traffic had stopped in a perfect circle right around the shadowhunters. I’m assuming they’re glamoured because this is NYC. You’re standing in the middle of a NYC street holding up traffic, at the very least, you’re going to get honked at. More than likely, you’re gonna get your ass run over. Drivers are absolutely savage in NYC. So the fact that there was no honking tells me that they were probably glamoured. In which case, why had traffic stopped and why was no one making a big deal about it? I don’t think the mundanes could see the dragon like creature looming over the city so why had traffic stopped? Guys, trust me. Brooklyn Rage is a thing. It makes no sense for why this happened. I know it’s a small thing but if you’re going to base your story in NYC, you gotta think about these things. You’ve gotta build atmosphere or you’re going to get called out on it.

Luke and Simon show up at the Seelie Court to retrieve Maia since Magnus is far too busy sulking in his hurt feelings to provide any sort of assistance in any of this. Even though I’m sure he realizes the Seelie Queen taking Maia to get to Simon makes perfect sense. He just can’t seem to care. He doesn’t want to admit that he’s made a bad decision. But Luke and Simon show up to the seelie court and for some reason they’re actually shocked that the Seelie Queen betrayed them. Why is this shocking? She literally has the least to lose in Valentine achieving his end goals. The confines of the seelie court will protect the downworlders so it makes sense that it’s really not that big of a deal if Valentine gets his wish. Really, they should’ve seen this one coming. But Luke just runs off in a huff being all, “Screw this. I’m going to find Maia.” 

This show needs to iron out how these portals work. How could Clary have missed Lake Lynn when she’s portaled there before using the exact same technique? They need to work on their world-building with these portals. The mythology of them is so inconsistent. When they’re made do they only take you to one specific place or does the person actually have to think of the place? The show is very unclear on it.

Izzy realizes that these demons are coming out of a rift and for a second, it felt like I’d jumped into an episode of Doctor Who or Torchwood but okay. They need a warlock’s help to close this rift and of course they need the best so they need Magnus. Alec is of course hesitant to go to Magnus’ since Magnus has been a major douchebag to him since the breakup. Izzy tells him that if Alec doesn’t ask Magnus, she will. I can’t help but feel that maybe it would’ve been better if Izzy had been the one to ask. If you need someone’s help, it really isn’t smart to send the person’s ex to do the asking. I feel like Magnus would say no on principle alone which is what happens at first. However, Izzy has the benefit of not being at the bane of Magnus’ emotions not to mention she could probably slap some sense into him. That would’ve been awesome to see. Not to mention, Magnus is behaving in a horribly vindictive way. I don’t like it. I’m not saying that you’re not allowed to be angry over this kind of situation but if you’re refusing to do something because your feelings are hurt and you’re willing to let the world burn because of it, you need to check yourself. There are more important things going on than your love life crumbling. Actual innocent people are going to die and I hate that Alec has to actually say this in order to get Magnus to help because Magnus is too busy licking his wounds. The Magnus I know at least would care. He probably would’ve felt this demonic presence and would’ve come to the Institute being all, “I know there are demons coming out of a rift. I need to close it but I can’t find it. I’m sure you have the ability to track it down. Keep in mind, this changes nothing on how I feel about you shadowhunters but I’m willing to put that aside to ensure the demons don’t destroy my home.” Just the way Magnus is behaving in this episode and the previous episode is so completely childish. You would expect more from someone who has 500 years of life experience. 

And then of course, the actual closing of the rift. I don’t even know where to begin with that scene because it makes me so angry. Needless to say, it was dumb. I don’t know why it was written that way. I hate that Alec missed one shot and suddenly he can’t handle this creature anymore when he was perfectly cool, calm, and collected when he got the one that was flying over NYC. He even missed a few times on that one and it didn’t phase him at all so it makes this situation feel completely out of character. It was out of character to begin with, though. Alec’s job was to keep the creatures away from Magnus so Magnus could seal the rift. Alec wouldn’t run back to Magnus and thereby bringing the creature to Magnus as well. It defeats the purpose of his job. His role was to keep the demons off of Magnus. Alec protects those he cares about with his life. He inherently believes other peoples’ lives are more important than his own. It’s why I love him so much. If he missed, he would keep on trying to kill that thing until he finally got it or the thing got him. In that moment, he would’ve known that Magnus’ life is more important. He wouldn’t endanger Magnus and Izzy’s lives. I understand why it was written. They wanted to have a moment where Magnus saves Alec’s life and thereby proves he still cares about Alec but Writers? Subtlety. Learn it. Please. This show is extremely unsubtle in everything it does and sometimes I’ll let it slide it but in this situation, no. This messed directly with a character’s core values and core motivations. I cannot let this one slide. I actually watched this episode a few times because I had so many bad things on my list and I wanted to make sure I had my facts straight. I had to fast forward completely through this scene every time I watched the episode. I couldn’t bare to watch it again. This is going to become one of those scenes where I’m just going to have to pretend it doesn’t exist. Much like the memory demon thing in Season 1 Epsiode 4, Raising Hell. I hate that moment when Alec lets go of the hands because he’d never do that and endanger his family’s lives. I get what they were trying to do with it. They were trying to reveal Alec’s feelings to Jace but again, so unsubtle and it messed with a character’s core values and core motivations and I will not stand for that. 

Also, “Edomi are from Edom”? No shit, Sherlock, I would never have been able to figure that one out. And why does Izzy getting hit in the shoulder knock her out for the count besides plot convenience?

We have Jace and Clary making their hike to Lake Lynn where supposedly there’s an army to stop Valentine if he shows up. The army is actually nowhere near Lake Lynn so I don’t understand what the point of that was. And then we’re introduced to Consul Malachi as the leader of this army and he quickly apprehends Jace and Clary and reveals himself to be a circle member. I’m with Clary on this one. How does a circle member end up as the Consul? Seriously. It makes no sense. I understand what the show was trying to get at. That there are bigots within the Clave’s own leadership but revealing him to be a circle member was completely unnecessary and dumb. He could’ve just been a guy that was trying to save his own skin. Nothing more. I also feel like his presence in this episode and subsequent betrayal came out of nowhere. We had one 3 second scene with him a few episodes back and we’re supposed to feel like he’s a guy we should trust and care about? I barely remembered who he was. This bit of the episode felt like it didn’t need to be there. It was almost like they were skimming through City of Glass and were like, “Oh No. We’re finished writing the finale but we didn’t do the Consul Malachi betrayal scene. Let’s throw one together real quick.” Honestly, this entire segment could’ve been cut and it wouldn’t have made any difference to the episode whatsoever. But I will say the beginning of that execution sequence is really frightening to watch. It was filmed very well. The distorted view of the man with the ax walking up to Clary, it’s very much how I would imagine a person about to be executed would feel. Time slows down as they realize it’s all about to end. But on the other side, why was Malachi having this big, drawn out execution? They hadn’t broken any laws. They weren’t being used as some sort of example. Malachi was killing them because he thought it was the right thing to do for some reason? I get that he doesn’t want them to stop Valentine but they were chained pretty well inside that tent. All he had to do was keep them there until it was too late. And ok, if he had to kill them, why have this drawn out execution sequence when he could’ve just stabbed them in the tent and been done with it? Why make a cheesy Bond villain mistake? Then we had Jace activating his runes which was alright, I guess. But there wasn’t really anything significant about that moment. I was surprised it took him that long to do it, honestly. It was just one of those “ok” moments. I feel like the intent of that scene was to show the depth of his emotions for Clary. That he absolutely could not let her die and those feelings led to him activating that ability. But the issue is that he’s never had a problem with using that ability. He’s been doing it a lot over the course of 2B so it kind of felt anticlimactic in this scene. As I said, I was surprised it took him this long to do it. If I was the writer, I would’ve showcased Jace having this ability early on in the season but also showcased that he was having difficulty activating it. Like he couldn’t figure out how to turn it on and then in this scene, BAM! He’s able to turn it on because his feelings for Clary were that strong. This is what’s known as a “payoff.” You build something up and as a result of building up to it instead of saying it outright, it turns into this epic moment. Due to this show’s subtlety issues, it’s no surprise that they’re also not that great at “payoff” moments either. I’m not saying that it was a weak moment for the show. I’m just saying it could’ve been so much more momentous and impactful if it was written a little differently. It could’ve actually meant something.

So I guess now we’re heading into the big Lake Lynn moments. There is going to be a lot of major City of Glass spoilers so if you haven’t read that book but are planning to, please don’t read this. City of Glass is my favorite book within The Mortal Instruments installment and I would never want to spoil that book for anyone.

Let’s talk about the Jace death scene. Jace and Clary make their way to Lake Lynn and when they get there, Valentine shows up and stabs Jace and I’m not entirely sure why. I mean, I know why. He says, “You and Jace are too dangerous together.” I don’t understand that level of logic. What makes them both dangerous exactly? I’m assuming that’s going to be brought up in Season 3 hopefully. But also, with that logic, why would Valentine kill Jace and not Clary? Or better yet, why wouldn’t Valentine just kill them both? Valentine even said he’s willing to sacrifice everything. But apparently not the daughter he has no relationship with? Even though the show gave us a reasoning for Jace dying, it still kind of felt purposeless. Like it didn’t really fit with the storytelling. In City of Glass, where this scene is largely being adapted from, there is a purpose to killing Jace. Along with the mortal instruments, there needs to be a shadowhunter sacrifice to summon Raziel. Valentine was initially going to use Clary for the sacrifice but decided on Jace as he felt spilling the blood of the one he loved the most would create a stronger summoning than spilling the blood of the daughter he hated. So there was a purpose behind it. But here, there was none. Whenever I look back at that moment, I just cannot make sense of why the writers chose to make it happen that way. I expect the show to make changes. You need to with an adaptation. And if you do make changes, those changes need to make the story you’re telling as good as or better than the original. But it wasn’t in my opinion. It doesn’t really make any sense. As I said before, I absolutely loved the death scene in terms of characterization. It was beautifully acted. The parabatai being interwoven into the death was very nice however, I will say that I wish this parabatai bond Jace and Alec have was a little more equal. It kind of feels like Alec feels the bond more than Jace. Now, I’m not saying that we should have seen Jace reacting to the parabatai bond breaking. Not saying that at all. He just got stabbed in the heart after all. However, I do feel like it would’ve been nice to make some sort of callback to the parabatai bond so it doesn’t feel like the show only uses the bond as a plot device. It didn’t have to be anything big or anything. Just something simple as Jace’s last words to Clary being, “Take care of Alec. I love you, Clary.” It would’ve been nice. My head canon feels like Jace realizes how hard it would be for Alec if Jace died and I feel like he would want to do something to ensure that Alec was alright. It would’ve been him essentially saying he loved Clary and that she was the only one he trusted to take care of his parabatai, his other half. But I’m sure I’ll also get the Clace fans riding my ass on this one. Because heaven forbid the focus be taken away from Clace for a single second. But as I said before, I did like the acting in this scene. That was very well done. People keep on mentioning Kat’s acting as being a standout in this scene and that lead them to believe she was “most improved”. I wouldn’t go so far as to say she was standout in that moment. Kat has always been really good at on-screen crying. She wasn’t exactly showing anything new with her acting skills. Now in Season 3, if she manages to pull off a sarcastic comment that doesn’t come off as annoying and condescending, then maybe I’ll change my tune. But I’m not going to say she’s most improved when the thing that people are saying she’s most improved on is the thing that she’s always been good at.

So Jace dies and Clary lunges at Valentine in anger which was another weird moment. Why was Valentine just casually sitting there watching this and letting her mourn? I find it really hard to believe that he actually cared about Clary mourning Jace’s death but maybe he needed some time to mourn as well. He did just kill the child he loved. And Clary lunging at Valentine and him subsequently knocking her out was so ridiculous when we’ve had multiple scenes of her being able to handle five guys on her own. What happened there? Did she forget how to fight? I legit laughed during that part and then I face-palmed. I suppose I could go with anger making you do dumb things in a fight but still, the way this was presented was laughable. And I’m not really a big fan of how the next scene went down. But this could also primarily be because of my bias towards the particular book this scene is being adapted from. City of Glass is my favorite within The Mortal Instruments installment and in City of Glass, I really like how the Lake Lynn stuff went down. But if you hadn’t read the books and you saw this scene, I’m sure you’d be like, “Yeah, ok. I can go with that.” Clary brutally killing Valentine does work in its own right. I just like the irony that the book uses. Valentine calls upon the angel but during the ritual doesn’t realize that Clary changed his name as the person summoning on the runes to her own. I just love that final act of stubbornness she has. Despite her having lost the most important thing to her and she’s essentially lost all hope, she is too stubborn to let Valentine win after everything. I like that how she defeats him is because of what he did to her. He experimented on her in the womb (without realizing it) and as a consequence, Clary was given the means to defeat him. She wouldn’t have known to cross out Valentine’s name and put in her own unless she had that angel blood telling her. It was something nobody else could’ve done. The fact that Valentine was defeated by her because of something he did was just beautiful. And then of course, Raziel roasting Valentine and subsequently killing him was pretty awesome. It was such a beautiful irony. Valentine, all of his life, believed that he was right and that downworlders shouldn’t be considered human and then we have Raziel, the thing he believed in the most, telling him that he’s wrong. I love tragic irony. Now don’t get me wrong, I can also be fine with Clary killing Valentine as she does in the show. I understand what the show was trying to do with it. You want your hero to kill the villain. And especially since the experiences Clary has gone through in the show have been a little different than the books. For one, Jocelyn dying (even though the show dropped it and didn’t really do anything with it).  It does make sense for Clary to kill Valentine but I would’ve written this show a little differently to support that plot happening so it would leave more of an impact. We all know I hate that Clary has become such a capable fighter in a very short period of time. It’s extremely unrealistic and every time she busts out her moves, I cannot take her seriously. It’s like when did she have time to get this good? Who has been teaching her? Trust me, take it from someone who has martial arts training, you cannot be that good in the space of a month. I would have written this series gradually having her learn these fighting skills, have her struggle, have her stumble through (because that’s realistic) and then in this final scene with Valentine, we have all of that training culminating to a point where in her anger and hatred for this man that killed her mother, destroyed her brother, and murdered the love of her life, we have all that training come to her in one explosion and that enables her to finally kill him. In other words, a payoff. As I’ve mentioned before, this is something this show has problems with. I understand why the show wanted her to be good at fighting so early on. They wanted to attract a different kind of audience other than the typical YA crowd. Girls fighting with swords is something that appeals to an older female audience wanting to see bad ass females as well as the male demographic. The male demographic has an appreciation for badass females with guns and swords. And whereas I do love seeing badass females, I will respond to them much more if their progression into a badass makes sense. So even though I’m a little disappointed that Lake Lynn ended differently then I would’ve wanted, I could still see the merit in having Clary kill Valentine. I just wish a little more care was put into the writing to make it truly impactful. 

And then we have Clary using the angel’s wish to bring back Jace which, all right. Same thing happens in the books. But at the same time I’m asking myself, why didn’t she bring back her mother? Jace even says “You could’ve had anything in the world you wanted” and Clary responds with “I don’t want anything in the world. I only want you.” Really? Are you saying that not even for a split second did she think it would be nice to have her mother back? In the books, you don’t run into this issue because Jocelyn doesn’t die. Even if I had moved on from my mother’s death, I still think I would’ve been tempted in a situation like this. With my friend’s death, even though I’ve learned to live with that pain, if I had a chance to brig her back, I would in a hot second. But you never even see Clary play around with this idea. This is also something the show has trouble with. They’ll make certain changes not realizing that by making those changes, the rest of the story needs to change as well. Fine, you make a significant change from the source material, I can deal with that, but you can’t take a scene from the book 100 pages down the line and expect to be able to use that scene verbatim. The context has changed so your story needs to change along with it. It’s a small moment and really doesn’t matter much in the greater scheme of things but it was just a weird moment for me.

Also, the angel’s voice? Absolutely ridiculous. It was like, “Alright kids. It’s time for story time at the library.” This was the least imposing voice I’ve ever head. Raziel is supposed to be scary, right? Angels are supposed to be on a completely different level than humans. Humans should find them imposing but here, I got nothing. It sounded like I was listening to a children’s audiobook. Clearly, Clary and Valentine didn’t find him all that imposing considering they had a death match right in front of him.

“Clary, you don’t bring people back from the dead without consequences.” “Not this time. This is a miracle.” Uh, when has Clary ever faced any consequences? Does she even know the meaning of that word? Both she and Jace know nothing about actually facing any consequences. That was a weird exchange to me. I could’ve ignored that part and just gone with it but it’s the principle of the thing. I’m sure everyone knows by now how much it irks me that Clary never takes responsibility for her actions. So she doesn’t get to say there won’t be any consequences “this time” when she’s never accepted responsibility for anything, ever.

We also cut back periodically throughout this episode to find out what’s going on at the seelie court. I’ll be honest. I really could not give a damn about what was going on with these seelie court scenes. This entire plot just wasn’t all that interesting to me. This was a plot that didn’t really fit into a season finale. It was very lowkey and it definitely felt rushed. This plot point probably would’ve worked best in 2x19. They would’ve had to change things around a little bit to make it fit but I definitely feel like it would’ve been more impactful. These scenes, in my opinion, made the episode drag. I wasn’t invested in these scenes. There were also things that I was kind of scratching my head about. For one thing, Meliorn. I’m glad Luke punched him. I’ve never liked the guy to begin with. But also, he had a really thick accent in that scene and I don’t recall him having that thick of an accent in other episodes I’ve seen him in. Now, him having the accent is not my issue. It’s the consistency of the accent that bugs me. As I said, I don’t really understand why his accent changed so much. I also didn’t really appreciate how damsel in distress-ish Maia was when Luke found her. I found it to be really out of character for her that she was practically on the brink of tears. Maia’s tough. I think she would definitely have been scared about the predicament she’s in but I also feel like that due to her past experiences, she wouldn’t have wanted to show weakness. I feel like she would’ve internalized it until she got out. That moment bothered me so much that for the first couple of seconds in that scene, I thought the seelies were giving Luke a hallucination or something. I didn’t think it was really Maia. 

Then we have the epilogue sequence which was nice in little bits but overall, my question is why are the downworlders and shadowhunters all of the sudden so friendly with each other? Nothing’s really changed. In the books, this epilogue makes sense because the downworlders and shadowhunters joined forces but here, nothing was resolved. Other than both sides realizing the seelies are never to be trusted. But okay, whatever. There was this line that Izzy says to Clary where she says that being surrounded by brothers all of the time made her really want to a sister and she’s happy she found Clary. Which is a nice line but at the same time, you live and work with about 20 other females, were those other women not good enough for you? Is there something wrong with them? It’s just context, guys. They made the change to have lots of people in the Institute without actually thinking about having scenes and lines like this. It ultimately doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.

I guess now we have to talk about Malec. Oh boy. It’s an unpopular opinion but I actually wanted them to stay broken up for a much longer period. They need to figure some shit out. You know, how to govern their people while dealing with their feelings and whatnot. I really felt like they needed some time apart for this but I guess not. And then of course, this show falling into the same pattern they always do with Malec drama. Alec apologizes again and Magnus accepts and they get back together. Magnus never apologizes despite doing the exact same thing Alec did (making a tough choice for the sake of his people) while at the same time being a total ass to Alec as well. In the last review, I really wanted to believe that Magnus’ spiteful and horrible behavior was due to him being under some sort of spell or perhaps playing the Seelie Queen but no. This was all him just being butt hurt about the break-up. And all I can say, this is not acceptable behavior. Just in the previous episode you admitted that you still loved Alec but needed to break up to do what’s best for your people. Of course this includes publicly humiliating said love of your life, raising a ward/shield that could kill the love of your life and not tell him about it, leave a friend of yours at the mercy of the Seelie Queen because you don’t want to believe you made a mistake, oh and nearly letting your city burn and innocent people die because you can’t deal with the subsequent betrayal. Yes, I see absolutely nothing Magnus should apologize for. I really hope that this is just the beginning of some much bigger Malec conflict where this behavior gets called into question. All I can say is if a lover treated me like this, I’d be gone. 

“Bye, Felicia!”

They both had done something wrong but yet Alec takes all of the blame? 

The same Malec holding pattern aside, I also have a problem with how quickly this was resolved as well. As great of a line as this is, “I don’t think I can live without you.” At the same time, it’s also, “oh please”. 

You’ve spent an episode apart. At most, it’s been a couple of days. You need to be apart a little longer than that for me to actually take that line seriously. Give it a few weeks and then say that line. But a couple of days? EVERYONE feels like that after a bad breakup. If a couple truly isn’t meant to be, those feelings change after a few weeks but not after a couple of days. Having actual space from someone is how you know if you can actually live without the other person. How can you say you can’t live without the other when you’ve only spent a couple of days apart? Save the overdramatic theatrics for Clace, okay? It just goes along with another issue I have with this show. This show cannot hold on to a conflict for more than an episode. Every problem is always fixed super quickly and that’s not realistic. There are some things that cannot be fixed overnight. And this Malec fight is one of them. There are a lot of things that went wrong in their relationship and they haven’t spent nearly enough time apart to actually really sort them out. But like I said, maybe this is just fuel to add on to a much bigger Malec conflict in Season 3 where they will break up for an extended period of time. I’ll hold on to that hope because I really feel like a large amount of time in a break-up is needed to help them build up this epic relationship that can withstand anything. Right now, it feel like their relationship could crumble at the slightest pebble being thrown at it.

As I said before, drunk Luke was awesome. But of course, Ollie has to go and ruin it. I don’t think there are words that can express how much I do not care about this character. Now, not only is she annoying but she’s also creepy as fuck. How does she keep tracking down Luke and why isn’t Luke bothered about this? Seriously, he needs to take a restraining order out on this chick. Who tracks someone to a private party, uses that person’s name to get in and proceeds to question said person about their werewolfism in front of the entire party? Showing up at a private party you’re not invited to is bad enough but to question someone about werewolves in front of everyone is just, “why?” Why was it written like this? It’s so weird. Yeah, I suspect someone of being a supernatural creature I was sure didn’t exist so I’m going to question that person about it in front of everyone. Now that makes sense. She’s supposed to be a detective, right? She must have the worst bedside manner ever.

As you may have noticed, this review was very disjointed. It was written like that on purpose to showcase just how disjointed the actual episode was. I’d give this an episode probably a B, I guess. Only slightly higher than most of my other reviews because as much as this episode didn’t make sense, there was a much higher production value. So that was nice to see. Believe it or not, I don’t actually go into these episodes expecting to hate it. I normally go in with a blank slate. With this episode, the showrunners told me I was going to like it so I went into it with optimism. I know I was nitpicking on a lot of things but I can’t help it. They were things that stood out to me so I’m going to comment on them. The writing in this script was absolutely ridiculous. It didn’t feel like a season finale. I didn’t hate everything about this episode. There were a few things that I did like. This season did arc much better than 2A and Season 1 did. Ultimately, the writing is what made it suffer. I’m really hoping the writing is going to improve in Season 3. I feel like Season 2 has been used primarily to filter out all of the questionable writing decisions from the Season 1 writers. One could only hope. For Season 3, I really hope they write more to having “payoffs”. Payoffs are the reasons people invest time into tv shows. They are so important. This show very rarely makes me feel anything because there are no payoffs and they’re completely unsubtle with everything they do. They need to hold on to a conflict for more than an episode or two. Build on it so that it’ll actually mean something. I also hope the next season centers around the idea of “consequences.” When it comes to a dark show like this, you need consequences. As a whole, very few “bad” things happened to the characters. And throughout this season, it felt like the characters kind of just stagnated. Granted, Clary did lose her mother but that plot point was dropped. Izzy’s drug addiction was dropped. She had a miracle cure and now she’s all good. I just want to see the characters change over the course of the season and it’s really hard to see that if the show keeps on dropping certain plot points. The writers are writing entirely too safe. Throw caution to the wind and just go for it. I can tell they’re trying to go for a dark story but something is also holding them back from going all the way. There’s a very childish tint to the writing of the plot and the characters. I’ll be real with you guys. One of my favorite episodes was Season 2, Episode 5 – Dust and Shadows. I know, unpopular opinion. Yes, it certainly had its issues but the writers went for it. There were a lot of dark themes in it and it was really interesting to watch these characters go through the things they did. Clary unwilling to accept that her mother should stay dead and making an ill-advised deal with a warlock (best of all, it highlighted just how dangerous the shadow world can be), Alec dealing with the issues of him being the one to kill Jocelyn, Izzy dealing with her injury and taking the “yin fen”. As much as I don’t like what they ultimately did with the yin fen, in that episode, all the directions they could’ve taken the plot point was incredibly intriguing to me. That episode, I legit felt things for everyone. Even Clary, believe it or not. And Clary finally letting go of her mother at the funeral? It was such a beautifully arced episode and it really made me excited for the next one. Unfortunately, the writing kind of dropped after that. I’d really be interested to see the show take that episode’s writing as a platform for Season 3.

I also feel like this episode was a huge letdown in how it was promoted. Their biggest tagline in this episode’s promo, “One will die” and yeah, okay, Jace died. But anyone who read the books saw that one coming. The show could’ve gone really crazy and had Clary die. Or my personal favorite, have Alec die. And Clary uses the wish to bring Alec back to save Jace from his despair. I was expecting them to do something really shocking but no. They did pretty much exactly what I thought they would do. And Valentine and Malachi died but you’re not actually meant to like those characters and they also die in the book too. You can’t promote an episode saying “One Will Die” and then have the character come back to life and kill off two other characters that the audience has no emotional connection too. That’s not what your audience is looking for with a “one will die” tagline. At that point, all you’re doing is baiting. The episode was extremely anticlimactic.

Well that’s it for this episode. It took me a while to write this review. I wanted to try and be as respectful as possible as I know a lot of fans liked this episode. But I also wanted to make sure I got my own emotions across about this episode. It was a difficult balance to find and I was really struggling with it. Until I realized the trick about fandoms: Haters always gonna hate. There’s always going to be someone in a fandom who doesn’t like your ideas. I need to be me and like the things I like and hate the things I want to hate. The trick to enjoying fandom is to not give a shit and I’m going to try and take this approach. I get super stressed out when I post these reviews because of all of the hate I get. I get a lot of anonymous asks and messages that are quite hateful that I don’t even respond to. I’ve realized it doesn’t matter how respectful I am. Those people are still going to berate me with hate. So if I’m going to get hate anyway, I might as well be blunt in these reviews. You don’t like my opinions, guess what? You don’t have to. But regardless, even if you’re a horrible person to me, I will always be the better person and always be respectful towards you. From now on, I’m just gonna do me. So what do I have on the pipeline for the next 6 months or so while we wait for Season 3? Well, I won’t be spending a whole lot of time in the Shadowhunters fandom. I’m sorry, but this show is not so good that I’m going to spend the off-season in it, too. I’m not that masochistic. I’ve got a few different things I’m going to be doing. For one, in honor of Psych The Movie coming out in December, I’ll be re-watching the entire Psych series. It is one of my favorite tv shows. I’ll probably be posting a lot about Psych. I will also be doing a lot with my latest love, a little anime called My Hero Academia. For those of you who haven’t seen it, I highly recommend it. Particularly if you’re a superhero fan. It’s pretty awesome. But you’ll see a lot of posts about that so maybe I’ll convince some of you to branch out and give anime a shot if you’re not already a fan. Little known fact, but I am a huge anime fan. In fact, I might like it a little more than regular US TV. 

Well, I hope you enjoyed listening or in this case, reading my thoughts. Even thought they were mostly negative. But a lot of you guys also like my negative and unpopular opinions about the show. So to those people, I hope I didn’t disappoint. If you don’t like my opinions and felt like you wasted your time, then I guess that’s your problem for reading through a 12 page blog post. But, I’d love to hear your thoughts on this episode. Did you love it? Did you hate it? Even though I know there are people who won’t...but please be respectful.