#alastair: we weren't?

[drunkonimagination]

tlh cast going ice skating, because it's that time of the year 🌨️⛸️

cordelia: incredible, an absolute queen, no one is doing it like her. she's a combination of natural skills, immaculate technique and that extremely elegant bearing that just carstairs own. everyone looks at her in awe (especially james), like 'can't believe she's a professional ice skater and we didn't know? this girl is insane'

james: he's fairly good, of course nothing to do with cordelia, but he handles it. he is content of going around the rink two, three times...but then he gets easily bored. this of course unless cordelia skates on his side...then he could spend hours ice skating and simping for his wife.

christopher: read a bunch of books about ice skating, took a little look at the rink, checked the ice's thickness and consistency and...fell at the first step on ice. but after that first slip he actually learns pretty quickly and everyone is kind of amazed. he even manages to do some little jumps emulating cordelia.

grace: she's trying, she's really trying, but ice skating is just not her thing. she remains very close to the border the whole time and refuses to take even one little step ahead. at some point christopher offers her his arm and after a little moment of hesitatation she takes it. he starts rambling about science almost immediately and the girl visibly relaxes. she even enjoys the whole experiences, since kit doesn't leave her alone for a second.

matthew: as infuriating as it is (cit alastair) he is a natural. his movements are kinda rough and he doesn't have cordelia's perfect technique, but god if he knows how to skate. he's incredibly skilled and definitely the fastest. he also acts like a little kid once he steps foot on the rink: he gets super excited, wants to make speed races all the time and skate backwards just because 'it's so fun!!' ('christopher's brother is way more mature' cit alastair pt II)

lucie: same kid attitude as matthew but less skilled. she's more on james's level but has twice fun while skating. she puts everyone in a good mood with her sparkling excitement and is basically a born motivator, like 'you can do it kit!! yeah!! that's what i was talking about!! by the angel, daisy that was awesome!!! please teach me!!!' everyone just adores her.

jesse: a fan of the border like his sister. he really didn't want to do this, but lucie's adorable face makes him do things he would have never imagined. he even learns some fundamentals after lucie drags him with her in the middle of the rink. and he also falls several times, but lucie's laugh makes it completely worth it <3

alastair: he's the only one who can keep up with cordelia. initially no one really noticed because he didn't want to draw attention, but when cordelia challenged him? no way he would just back off. so he gave his little perfect performance shocking everyone in the process. but he didn't spend much time showing off (even if he definitely could if he wanted), because he had something else to take care of.

thomas: he's that something. the man is absolutely terrified, looks at the ice rink once and immediately goes 'nope, this ain't for me'. but alastair insists like 'c'mon tom, just give it a try' 'why can't i just look at you being perfect on those skates?' 'i don't want to force you...but wouldn't it be nice if you at least try it once?' '*violently puts the skates on* UGH FINE.' worst decision of his life, instantly regrets it. he grips on alastair's jacket all the time like he's going to die at any moment and when alastair finally convinces him that he's got it and he's not going to fall- thomas falls. completely on alastair.

bonus for thomastair because i am a clown:

thomas: *apologizing in every possible language, regretting all his life decisions, thinking he's somehow caused brain damage to alastair with that fall*

alastair: *lying on this back with thomas's body pressed on him, noticing little snowflakes stuck in thomas's hair, looking at thomas's red cheeks, lingering on thomas's lips moving, thomas's lips moving, thomas's lips, thomas's lips, thomas-*

matthew passing by and taking one (1) look at them: if you start making out now, i will not hang out with you two ever again.

#thomas *gasp*: WE WERENT GOING TO MAKE OUT!!! #alastair: we weren't? #alastair carstairs #thomas lightwood #cordelia carstairs #james herondale #matthew fairchild #christopher lightwood #grace blackthorn #lucie herondale #jesse blackthorn #tlh #the last hours #chain of iron #thomastair #jordelia #ghostwriter #chain of thorns

[rius-cave]

Wouldn't it be funny if Adam kept getting important names wrong cause he just doesn't care? Like Alastor, he calls Alastair and it just has him frothing at the mouth?

Or he asks Angel Dust about the Overlord/Overlords who own him and he's like:

Adam: Oh the Vee's? Weren't they....Nox, Valentine, and Velveeta?

Angel spits out his drink he's laughing so hard.

HAHAHAHA There's someone who we both know that's already making that joke! Specifically about one of them in fact! 😂 It's honestly one of my favorite bits that they're doing, because it gets them so angry.

#stupid adam my beloved #hazbin hotel #adam #ask

[threewaywithdelusion]

Shadowhunter Chronicles characters/couples as Taylor Swift songs:

Couples:

Herongraystairs: Timeless

I would’ve read your love letters every night / and prayed to God you’d be coming home alright / and you would’ve been fine, we would’ve been timeless /

cause I believe that we were supposed to find this / so even in a different life / you still would’ve been mine / we would’ve been timeless

Cordelia/Matthew: Getaway Car

I struck a match and blew your mind / but I didn't mean it / and you didn't see it

I wanted to leave him / I needed a reason

You were driving the getaway car / we were flying but we'd never get far / don't pretend it's such a mystery / think about the place where you first met me / riding in a getaway car / there were sirens in the beat of your heart

It was the great escape / the prison break

You weren't thinking / and I was just drinking

Thomas/Alastair: Sweeter Than Fiction

Wish I could make it better / someday you won't remember / the pain you thought would last forever and ever

Just a shot, just a shot, in the dark, oh, oh / All you got, all you got are your shattered hopes / they never saw it coming

Proved me right, proved me right, when you proved them wrong

I'll be one of the many saying "look at you now, look at you now, now" / I'll be one of the many saying "you made us proud, you made us proud, proud"

Anna/Ari: A Perfectly Good Heart

Why would you wanna break a perfectly good heart? / Why would you wanna take our love and tear it all apart? / Why would you wanna make the very first scar?

Maybe I should've seen the signs, should've read the writing on the wall / And realized by the distance in your eyes that I would be the one to fall

Kieran/Mark/Cristina: Out of the Woods

The rest of the world was black & white / but we were in screaming color

Are we out of the woods yet? / Are we in the clear yet? / Good

We were built to fall apart and fall back together

Your necklace hanging from my neck

That night we couldn't quite forget / when we decided, we decided / to move the furniture so we could dance

Remember when you couldn't take the heat? / I walked out, said 'I'm setting you free' / But the monsters turned out to be just trees / when the sun came up, you were looking at me

Emma/Julian: Run

Give me the keys / I'll bring the car back around

And my so-called friends, they don't know / I'd drive away before I let you go

I could see this view a hundred times / pale blue sky reflected in your eyes

There's a heart on your sleeve / I'll take it when I leave / and hold it for you

There's been this hole in my heart / this thing was a shot in the dark / say you'll never let 'em tear us apart / and I'll hold onto you while we run / like you'd run from the law

Emma/Julian Part 2: Dress

Our secret moments in a crowded room / they got no idea about me and you

All of this silence and patience / pining and anticipation / my hands are shaking from holding back from you

I don't want you like a best friend

Inescapable / I'm not even gonna try / and if I get burned, at least we were electrified

Even in my worst times / you could see the best of me / flashback to my mistakes / my rebounds, my earthquakes / even in my worst lies, you could see the truth in me

I woke up just in time / now I wake up by your side / my one and only, my lifeline

Kit/Ty: Renegade

I tapped on your window on your darkest night

Are you really gonna talk about timing in times like these? / And let all your damage damage me? / And carry your baggage up my street? / And make me your future history?

Is it insensitive for me to say "get your shit together so I can love you?"

Magnus/Alec: You Are In Love & Lover

You understand now why they lost their minds and fought the wars

There's a dazzling haze, a mysterious way about you dear / have I known you 20 seconds or 20 years?

Can I go where you go? / Can we always ben this close? Forever and ever

Ladies and gentlemen, will you please stand? / with every [bow] string scar on my hand / I take this magnetic force of a man to be my lover

My heart's been borrowed and yours has been blue / All's well that ends well to end up with you / swear to be overdramatic and true to my lover

Characters:

Julian: Eyes Open

The tricky thing / is yesterday we were just children / playing soldiers, just pretending / dreaming dreams with happy endings

And now we've stepped into a cruel world / where everybody stands and keeps score

Everybody's waiting for you to break down / everybody's watching to see the fallout / even when you're sleeping / keep your eyes open

So here you are / two steps ahead and staying on guard / every lesson forms a new scar / they never thought you'd make it this far

Nobody comes to save you now

Matthew: Tied Together With A Smile

Hold on, baby you're losing it / the water's high, you're jumping into it / and letting go / and no one knows / that you cry, but you don't tell anyone / that you might not be the golden one / and you're tied together with a smile but you're coming undone

it's not his price to pay

Clary: The Man

I'd be a fearless leader / I'd be an alpha-type / when everyone believes ya? / What's that like?

I'm so sick of them coming at me again / 'Cause if I was a man / then I'd be the man

#the shadowhunter chronicles #herongraystairs #fairstairs #thomastair #Anna and ariadne #idk their ship name #kierarktina #Julian and emma #what do we call them? #jemma blackstairs #kitty #malec #Julian blackthorn #matthew fairchild #clary fray #the last hours #the infernal devices #the dark artifices #listen I haven't read TMI in like 10 years so I can't possibly figure out the songs with enough accuracy

[ladyhindsight]

After letting this book stew in the back of my mind a couple days, I've come to add some more points that I was thinking about after I first managed to unload most of my thoughts.

i. In one of the many examples of characters telling each other how much they've changed, Thomas tells Alastair that Alastair is not the same he was before. That Alastair wouldn't have rushed to help Thomas when he was arrested. Wouldn’t have followed Thomas the first place and to make sure he was safe. The person Alastair used to be wouldn’t have looked after Matthew and wouldn’t be reading book after book about paladins to try to help his sister. The first two, three points I can agree on, but that last part. Either Thomas knows nothing about Alastair and Cordelia's relationship, or the writing knows nothing about Alastair who did his everything so Cordelia had happy childhood with a loving father without the darkness behind it all. Seriously.

ii. In the end, it is told that Anna and Ari are looking to adopt kid(s) because there are many Nephilim orphans. Thomas and Alastair talk how they will never get to have kids, but it is never addressed why they couldn't adopt also.

iii. Jesse trains vigorously in order to build up strength, James is looking to train with someone else than Matthew. Why do we never see any adult Shadowhunters train in the series? As if they do not need to maintain and preserve their skills and strength.

iv. James and Alastair never conclude their feud or arrive to a truce.

v. James and Grace never arrive to any conclusion either with each other.

vi. James' story was so tied to Cordelia, Matthew, and Belial that all the other conflicts that were previously introduced weren't properly concluded. Just because James tells Cordelia he isn't angry and no longer cares or thinks about that stuff, in the narrative sense they still remain open with the characters he does not even interact with.

vii. Additionally to the Lightwoods not getting to grieve their children: When Gideon and Sophie appeared at the Iron Tombs, the writing didn't acknowledge them any more than making them present. No reaction, no emotion, nothing that even remotely touched the fact that their nephew had just died by Tatiana, that Gabriel and Cecily have now gone through the same incredibly awful loss as they had right before.

viii. There is similar passiveness in the narrative seen in Queen of Air and Darkness: When Robert has died, Alec rises from beside Robert's body and basically throws himself at Magnus, but Magnus isn't a participant in the action/has no reaction (for instance, doesn't hold Alec or embrace him back). When Isabelle cries because of Robert's death, she is sitting on a couch with Alec and is clinging to him and sobbing against his shoulder, but Alec, like Magnus in that scene mentioned above, isn't written doing anything. His lack of action (for instance, holding his arms around Isabelle or consoling her) just gives the image of him passively sitting there while Isabelle cries her heart out. Similarly Gabriel does have no reaction to Alex's kidnapping, he just holds Cecily who does. But then Cecily or Gabriel aren't allowed to have reaction to Kit actually dying.

ix. Cecily's absence in the final battle could be read as that she remained in Idris because of Alexander (and Kit's death), but having no mention of her or how she is fairing in the rest of the book is just insanely callous.

x. Lucie's secret about the ghosts in their parabatai ceremony rehearsal came out of nowhere since Lucie never really did show any apprehension for any reason becoming parabatai with Cordelia?

xi. The characters are once again attracted to each other's appearance.

xii. Anna's "slim curves" being a constant aspect told about her looks.

xiii. Why is that the Herondale kids (excluding the other part of the pair) are the only ones to have parabatai? It's so strange that such concept as parabatai is "rare" among the Nephilim when they could just benefit greatly from warrior partners who can draw strength from one another, draw stronger runes on one another, and just in general be stronger in battles.

xiv. Thomas is constantly comparing himself to James and Matthew (and no one else) :/ Wonder why...

xv. What meaningful thing did Matthew's character actually do as to the plot in this book? He had no integral part other than being James' voice after James is being possessed by Belial.

xvi. Why was the Blackthorn sword such a huge deal anyway? Wasn't there suppose to be a name for it?

xvii. Jesse's "stolen" runes are never addressed again, neither whether he got them stripped. Which either way raises the question of whether Shadowhunters stripped from their runes (which is told to be a painful procedure) and send into exile could have then reapplied just as well? Could someone like Edmund Herondale who was stripped of his Marks technically become a Shadowhunter once more?

xviii. Why were Lucie's and James' respective powers tied to Belial himself? Belial had no use for Lucie and says as such that he holds no interest over her. Why there is no actual consequence of having 1/4 of Greater Demon blood since their powers disappeared with Belial?

xix. Similarly to Gabriel and Cecily, Kit and Grace had more authentic build-up to a possible relationship whereas all the others were incredibly fabricated and contrived.

xx. There was an illustration (collector's first edition) of Cordelia holding the ice sword. It was supposed to be a tease for the readers waiting for the publication of the book, but then it was just one scene and didn't even really matter even though Cordelia slew Tatiana in Lilith's name.

xxi. Jesse berates and blames Grace for having a choice and making the wrong one as to the whole bracelet mess, but what would've become of Grace had she refused? This is never thought of or addressed by anyone, the least by Jesse. No one but Kit was interested in Grace's victimhood and healing.

xxii. Jesse and Grace's relationship is just left unaddressed the rest of the book (Aside that everyone is looking for James to know how to feel their independent feelings and ganging up on her) after Jesse gets mad at her. They become closer once more towards the end but the writing still rather leaves all things unsaid, so unconcluded.

xxiii. Alastair doesn't bond with anyone else than Thomas. Everyone is doing their missions with their romantic partners because that's how things always go in this series. Why care about mixing things up a bit and have different character interactions?

xxiv. Things that disappeared from previous installment: Ari's wish to befriend Grace, Grace's secret about Tatiana wanting her to seduce Jesse, the rumor/supposition/fact that Grace was bought by Tatiana.

xxv. James barely, if at all, grieves Kit or acknowledges his passing. Cordelia is the same. Matthew does a few times. Thomas was the only one to carry Kit's death with him to the end. It was absurd how quickly Kit's death was brushed aside. He didn't even get a funeral nor even as little as a mention of such.

xxvi. Kit and Grace would've become revolutionary inventors in the Shadowhunter spheres but that would've been too powerful, I guess. (Also great how the only big character described as not conventionally attractive dies??)

xxvii. James and Cordelia's relationship leans heavily on previously established feelings and lacks substance and chemistry, just words and physical desire.

xxviii. If Cordelia's bond with Lilith is ended the moment Belial dies by her blade, then how was she able to heal James with paladin sword?

xxix. Do all the protagonist need to go dimension-hopping as if not to be lesser than the previous ones? No matter, the TMI gang still holds the crown since they've been to Edom and Diyu. TID zero.

xxx. I'm assuming Clare thought it was better that Alec descended from Alex (just assuming since I don't yet know what the "real" family tree looks like), probably also because Kit and Grace don't have the HERONDALE HAIR and obviously their children possibly couldn't.

xxxi. All the unnecessary things in this book greatly outweigh the necessary ones. I don't see any re-read value in any of this. And I still don't know what the series name refers to.

#Cordelia Carstairs #James Herondale #Matthew Fairchild #Thomas Lightwood #Christopher Lightwood #Alastair Carstairs #Grace Blackthorn #Jesse Blackthorn #Chain of Thorns #The Last Hours

[alastairstom]

"'For the first time in my life, I have my own home,' Alastair said. 'To decorate as I have always wished.' 'Well, I am here as well,' Thomas said, 'but, as I also quite enjoy Christmas, I see your point. We must bring the holly-jolly cheer in here.' 'Perhaps not too holly-jolly. Too much Christmas is surely bad for the constitution. Like cake, or plum pudding.' Alastair put a sage finger in the air. 'If you consume too much of the good thing, its sweetness sits like a horrid lump in your stomach and makes you feel horribly ill.' 'Well, I say ‘bring on the tinsel.’ Thomas pumped a fist in the air before him." Or, the one where Thomas and Alastair decorate their home for Christmas. (And then, of course, have a party to show it off.)

Chapter 2 is also already written and will go up tomorrow!

Eyyy @emmalovesfitzloved, it's your last prompt! I'd been planning to do this anyway - you weren't the one who initially gave me the idea - but I do think you should be credited and tagged for having thought of it, too.

taglist (lmk if you want to be added/removed): @staywildefairchild @sourlemons262 @belle-keys @coriia @drunkonimagination @alastaircarstairsismybff @vwritesaus @claritywithclary @luciehercndale @what-ho-christopher-put-in @life-through-the-eyes-of @alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer @bluewrite @lulusofis @oursoulstheyplay @tessherongraystairs @athearaej @faithfromanewperspective @vwritesaus

#thomastair #thomas lightwood #alastair carstairs #my fic #holiday fic

[shallowseeker]

Things Alastair would tell you:

Circa season 15 or post-season 15:

"Dean Winchester...

In the end, you were just weak.

Oh, yes. I heard it all through the grapevine. Too weak to defeat Lucifer on your own. Too weak to contain Michael. So weak that your kiddo had to fight your battles for you.

Turned him into the snake that ate your mom, so the story goes.

Now, Dean. I've heard it in two different ways. One says there was a little bit of her left, but that the cannibalism was just so messy. The second says she just went Kaboom.

No?

Fine. Either way, it's on you. No matter what you tell yourself, no matter who else you try to blame.

And even after you got your second chance, you chose revenge. Blew up your kid and made him into Daddy's little WMD. Bet you're proud of that. A chip off the ole block. John 2.0.

And here's the saddest part. You led that angel you loved into a trap and he died.

Dean, Dean, Dean.

That's what we like to call a foregone conclusion.

Badabing, badabang. Your kid became God, but he cares for you so little that somehow you're back with me. Mine, as you always were. You weren't even special. You lasted six months without them. Couldn't even handle a vampire.

Like I said.

Weak.

A real disappointment.

But we can fix that, can't we?"

#freeform #dean stuff #sam called him weak in season 2-3 #dark kaia called him weak in season 14 #it's the same song different key always #it's still playing even when you can't hear it #well into season 15 #nothing matters because you're weak dean #spn alastair #cw abuse #i can't remember who suggested throwing alastair into season 15 #but it's an idea that sticks with me #i think alastair hits more deeply than a return of azazel would've

[amchara]

I think the thing is... when it comes to Chain of Thorns I was pretty much there. Up until 75% of the way through I was escastic and was getting everything I had hoped for in the book and... then the ending just didn't land for me.

Too many aspects and relationships were wrapped up in a nice, neat bow.

Most importantly, that final battle should've had higher stakes. I was genuinely worried about Anna and Ari for a moment but that passed quickly. Alastair and Matthew should've been in more danger protecting Cordelia.

Maybe we shouldn't've have known or foreshadowed less about Cortana's healing abilities when Cordelia was a paladin. Like- James STABBED himself in the heart. But I knew he'd be okay. The stakes just weren't there for me to be worried.

I know it's a matter of differing tastes and I know Cassie's fondness for happy endings. But I am now very curious to know what she originally intended and what she changed. And whether it would've made a difference in terms of how the ending landed.

#chain of thorns #chain of thorns spoilers #chain of thorns spoiler #cot spoilers #chot spoilers

[ekacucumber]

Ninjagotober 2023

by @alastair-1205

╔ ⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤ ╝❀╚ ⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤ ╗

❀ Prompt: Green

❀ Main characters: Lloyd Garmadon, Yumi(OC)

❀ Timeline: Between seasons 2 and 3 | After season 4 | Season 5

❀ Summary: Yumi and Lloyd are sworn siblings. But they weren't always this close.

❀ Word count: 1301

╚ ⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤╔ ❀ ╗⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤ ╝

Yumi can't help but consider Lloyd as her sworn brother. This is a little bit different kind of relationship than friendship. She feels responsible for the Green Ninja, she wants to always stay by his side and catch him when he falls.

The more Yumi thinks about Lloyd Montgomery Garmadon, the more she understands the reason of her attachment. He's a son of Sensei Garmadon... Maybe, that's it? Maybe, that's her way to pay tribute to her mentor?

*＊✿❀⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤❀✿＊*

"And... Go."

Upon Garmadon's command Lloyd makes a dash towards Yumi. He makes a sharp blow, and she dodges with her eyes closed, but with an exhalation of surprise. The Green Ninja's moves are quick and accurate, and it takes Yumi a lot of effort to keep escaping his attacks, as she's allowed only to sense the aura, but not to see her opponent. Yumi feels Sensei's eyes on her and tries her best... Also, she feels Lloyd's eagerness.

Yumi misses a blow so hard in the arm that she recoils.

"Stop," Sensei Garmadon says. When Lloyd finally stops, Yumi opens the eyes and looks at the winner's victorious face. "Good job, Yumi, but you still have to work with your fear of your opponent. Remember, when you see clearly, you can predict the next step."

Lloyd smirks.

"And Lloyd, you shouldn't be so violent. Firstly, your body shouldn't act faster than your mind. Secondly..." Garmadon smiles. "You're on training, after all. You could be more gentle with Yumi."

Now that's Yumi's turn to smirk. She actually appreciates every moment father reproaches his son.

"That's the end of our lesson. I'll be in the library if you need me."

As Sensei Garmadon leaves the dojo, Yumi allows herself a weakness and queitly moans, although in an empty room it's perfectly audible.

"Oww, that really hurts... Master's right, you could be more gentle..."

"How could I be more than that?" Lloyd snorts. "I was very careful."

"Dude, you went feral this time! I thought you wouldn't even stop after Master's command."

"Don't you trust the Green Ninja?"

"Honestly, I can't trust Lloyd Garmadon when he acts like a child and goes too far," Yumi can't wrap her words up as a joke, and she sounds more insulting than she actually wants.

"Hey, I'm not a child! I'm just stronger than you."

"It's not a competition, we have different tasks. You fight, and I..."

"And you?" Lloyd raises his brow, waiting for an end of the phrase.

"... You get the point."

"No, I don't. Can you explain?"

Yumi gets angrier when she sees this snide face. She doesn't understand why Lloyd's being so mean to her, why they always argue at trainings, why he always wants so much attention.

Is something wrong with her?

*＊✿❀⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤❀✿＊*

"So... He's gone..."

"Yes. He is."

Yumi can't fully realize what happened to Garmadon. She sits next to Lloyd and stares in the void with the empty head.

"I accepted it so fast, I... I didn't even have time or willpower to say goodbye..." her voice breaks.

"Listen to me, Yumi," Lloyd says. "I know it's hard, I understand your feelings... It's a great loss for our team and our family... But we must stay strong. We shouldn't let the sorrow stop us."

Yumi looks at his worried face and slightly smiles, selfishly forgetting how Lloyd has sent his own father to the Cursed Realm.

"How do you manage to accept reality so easily?.."

*＊✿❀⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤❀✿＊*

As the Ninja get back on the ship and bring Lloyd with them, Yumi is the first to hug the Green Ninja.

"Lloyd, you're back! You're finally here!"

"Whoa, Yumi..." Lloyd barely hugs her back. "Yeah, I'm back, back..."

"He's back, but weakened," notes Wu, although smiling. "Let him recover."

"Sorry... I'm just so glad to see you again, Lloyd," Yumi sighs with relief.

"Oh, didn't you miss us too? We were also in great danger..." Jay is faced with glances of his perplexed friends. "Come on, guys, I'm just kidding!"

"So, what's next?" Yumi asks.

"Morro stole the Realm Crystal," Cole can't hide the anger in his voice. "I think we must get ready for a fight."

"Okay, guys, you prepare, and I take Lloyd to his room and help him get better."

"Hey, you don't have to, I will be fine on my own..." Lloyd tries to pull away from Kai, but can't stand firmly on his feet.

"No-no-no, we are not discussing it, I'm definitely taking care of your recovery," Yumi lets him lean on her and escorts him to the room. She leaves the Green Ninja on the bed and takes a first aid kit from a shelf to treat.

"Ugh, Yumi, I'm gonna be fine, you'd better help others..." Lloyd mumbles.

"Don't play a hero," Yumi takes out a box of band-aids. "You know, I'm against sacrifices. So please, relax and let me do my job."

Firstly, Yumi starts treating the bruises. She's relieved that Lloyd isn't injured too much, so it takes just a bunch of band-aids and bandages. However, she senses how faint his aura is, and that's the problem for the Dream Master to solve.

"There!" Yumi puts the last patch on Lloyd's cheek. "Now give me a hand, I will work with your energy."

"Is it necessary?.." Lloyd, conversely, pulls his hand back. "I can recover by myself."

"Lloyd... Why are you being so stubborn?" Yumi sighs. "I'm serious, it would be better if I help."

"Uh... Alright."

The Dream Master takes Lloyd's hand and concentrates her inner energy. Physical contact helps her to make a connection with the Green Ninja's aura and send an energy flow to him. The flexible Dream energy converts into green energy and strengthens the aura.

"Do you feel better?" Yumi asks. She keeps her eyes closed, but sees her own aura, Lloyd's aura, the connection, the energy.

"Yeah..."

"It's gonna take some time, but I'll get you back on top, I promise."

"How have you learnt it?" Lloyd asks in confusion. "I can't remember you doing this before..."

"Well, to be honest, I had a lot of time to improve while you were on missions. Also, there was just no need."

"That's... Impressing."

Yumi smiles, pleased to hear these words from Lloyd. She missed him... She blamed herself again for not keeping track and letting the disaster happen. Even though she's not the one to blame.

"You know... I've been worried about you all these days," Yumi quietly adds. "Everything shouldn't have happened."

"Morro said that's because we had opened the portal to the Cursed Realm..."

Yumi unwillingly frowns.

"For real?"

"Yeah..." Lloyd shrugs. "So, did we have a choice to avoid- ow, ow, you're squeezing my hand."

"Oh, sorry," Yumi loosens her grip that was caused by the unpleasant memories. She concentrates on energy flow again. "If the situation is like this... I don't know what to think."

"If only I was stronger and could fight Morro..." Lloyd sighs heavily. "Then nothing would happen."

"You were strong," Yumi denies. "I heard you had took the control to give Kai the Sword of Sanctuary. I think you did your best against Morro."

The Dream Master slightly smiles.

"I'm proud of you, and I'm sure your father would be proud too."

*＊✿❀⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤⏤❀✿＊*

Yumi can't help but consider Lloyd as her sworn brother. This is a little bit different kind of relationship than friendship. She feels responsible, she wants to always stay by his side and catch him when he falls.

The more Yumi thinks about the Green Ninja, the more she understands the reason of her attachment. Due to this role, Lloyd must be a hero. Due to her role, Yumi must be a helpmate.

And they are both well aware of how heavy their burden is, so helping each other is essential.

#ninjagotober 2023 #ninjago #lego ninjago #ninjago fanfiction #ninjago au #dream master au #ninjago oc #ninjago yumi #yumi mirackel #ninjago lloyd #lloyd garmadon #ninjago garmadon #sensei garmadon

[thiefbird]

welcome to dadwc!! how about ❛ why does it feel like this is goodbye? ❜ for any pairing of your choice?

For Nevra Surana x Alistair! This takes place in between Riordan telling the Wardens how the Archdemon must be killed, and Morrigan proposing the Dark Ritual; it's also before Nevra becomes possessed

For @dadrunkwriting

Riordan silently left the room, likely to try to sleep; Alastair's careful, confident shell shattered. She knew it would: a year living in each other's pockets had made her almost too familiar with the slightest changes on his face and she could read the signs of impending panic better than she could sense darkspawn.

Nevra stepped closer to Alistair, just close enough to break him out of his trance, and he collapsed into her, fingers digging into her ribs and spine, as if he held her right enough, not even an Old God could separate them. She wrapped one arm around his waist, looping the other around his neck to comb through the soft, short hairs on the back of his neck as he buried his face in her shoulder.

They stood like that for long moments, the only sounds Alistair's harsh breathing and the pounding of their hearts, until Alistair had calmed enough to pull away of his own accord. "Why is it always you comforting me?" he asked, voice small and ashamed. "You're always there for me, for all of us, and any time it feels like we should be there for you, I'm the one falling apart anyways."

It wasn't the time to explain how the Templars and the Circle taught spent to control their emotions; he didn't need that tonight. He didn't need to know the burns across her back and arms weren't the result of a misplaced spell, like she'd said when he'd asked all those months ago, but were how the Templars countered the cold, heavy weight of Despair.

She didn't want to cry ever, anymore. She didn't think she could if she tried.

"Because I love you. You need me, and I am here." It wasn't a lie. She smiled up at him, brushing her thumb over the salt-sticky tear tracks on his cheeks.

Alistair brought his hand to hers, pressing it more firmly to the side of his face before kissing her palm. "You are... you are the most beautiful, wonderful woman in Ferelden. Possibly in the whole of Thedas, but I've never been outside of Ferelden." His smile was watery, but sincere and adoring, and Nevra wanted to hide from the weight of his regard, even knowing no Templars would separate them.

"I do not deserve you," he continued, "but I will spend the rest of my life learning to, even if it is only-"

She covered his mouth with her hand before he could finish his sentence, a superstitious part of her afraid he'd speak it into being. "You do deserve me, Ali. And you heard Riordan. This will not fall to you if he can help it. Keep hope, love."

Alistair's nose scrunched up indignantly before he pried her hand off. "I know what Riordan said, Nev, I just... Why does this feel like you're saying goodbye?"

Because I am. Because I already got my greatest wish. I've seen snow, and mountains, and the sea. I've slept beneath the moons and stars, and I've fallen in love, and I'm free. Because I forfeited my life at my Harrowing, and even He can't save me from an Old God's soul.

"I'm not, Ali. Just... just promise me you'll..."

"No! No, Nevra, you don't get to- I can't. I can't!" The look of panic on Alistair's face broke her heart; it hurt worse than deepstalker venom. His fingers gripping her shoulders were bruisingly tight as he near folded himself in half to look her in the eyes. "Don't ask this of me. I love you. I love you! Don't ask me to let you die for me like my mother and brother and Duncan and every other Warden-!"

His tears were flowing freely again, distress staining his cheeks with uneven blotches, and she forced herself to step away, breaking his hold on her. "I'm not asking as your lover, Alistair. I'm telling you as your Commander. If Riordan falls, I will deal the final blow." She was proud of how controlled her voice sounded; some small part of her still in the Circle smarted at any sign of emotion.

Alistair froze, stunned by her tone, and slowly straightened up. Oh, how she wanted to comfort him, to reassure him they'd both be alright, but she couldn't force her lips around the empty words. If they both lived, she would apologize beg for his forgiveness. Until then, one of them needed to step back, and she knew it had to be her.

"... You're not my commander, Surana. Riordan is." Alistair sounded colder than Nevra had ever heard him, and it sent a chill down her spine. "You do not command me, and as your lover, I will stay by your side. If that means we both die to Urthemiel, so be it. But I will not let one more person sacrifice themselves in my name."

#working title: alistair grows a backbone #dadwc #dragon age drunk writing circle #alistair #alistair theirin #alistair x hero of ferelden #warden x alistair #nevra surana #f!surana

[emmalovesfitzloved]

Who are your fav characters, and why ? And favourit ship/s ?

Eeeeek finally getting round to this lovely ask by the smartiest @imabitchforjemcarstairs hehehe

I have answered this lovely q, and here is the link for the full unhinged answer for the "why" them, hehe.

But the TLDR just for fire rapid answers is:

Favourite characters:

Alastair

Will/Tessa (tie)

Thomas

Matthew

Kitty and Jessa tie

Malec (if allowed a sixth place)

Top Ships:

Thomastair

Wessa

Kitty

Jemma

Malec

(lots of cheating with the ties, but im going to be honest, i can't choose frfr)

Now to enjoy this read and not make and make this answer half assed, I will be original and give my two cents on the topic of Wessa vs. Jessa i haven't had the time to chat about until now. So technically you didn't ask for this lol but i feel like we love Jem and this is a perfect opportunity to give an essay responce on the whole shindig :)

So scooch in for me @imabitchforjemcarstairs we need a chat ;) .

On the topic of Jessa vs. Wessa vs. Herongraystairs in TID:

I think I liked them a lot especially in TID, but i think that the lack of Jem POV makes it hard to really understand what's going inside in his head. And i think the relationship as a ship in writing, suffers from it, especially when we have Will's POV. And that rather, the decisions that 'metamorph' in their relationship is out of Jessa's hands, but a response to the events CC convienently plops in, not allowing any of these three characters decided eyes wide open their fate. Which imo, is a cop out. Let's breakdown the sneaky manipulative writing CC did ;)

I recently reread TID (for about the 10th time now, as one does during the christmas season lol) and found that even during the Herongraystairs arc, it felt like the writing gave more bonding and more to Wessa than Jessa. I call this in romance novels the, "convincing period", where the author in those formative chapters has to convince the reader that these two individuals should be in a ship. CC convinced us on Wessa bc they were into each other since day 0 when Will saved her from the Twin sisters, had so many hobbies in common and shared the same common struggles of figuring out who they want to be in this world (Will struggling w/ his identity and curse and Tessa as a weird hybrid warlock who constantly gets gaslit her who life). So the convincing is done well there i think we can all agree on that pretty easily.

For Jem and Tessa, it seems as if Tessa always defaulted to him because he was a failsafe from Will. And i don't mean that negatively, but in that, he was brilliant, light, elegant, poised and studied and that is literally sexy as hell lol. LIKE COME ON, HE MADE MUSIC ON HIS VIOLIN FOR HERRR. THAT'S HELLA ROMANTIC. And is very "show don't tell" when it comes to his love, my fav trope. He is very clear, which at the time, was the opposite of Will. So that in of itself is attractive to Tessa. But it's a canon event, that she went into the engagement collaterally in book 2, bc Will constantly kept deflecting what they had. She wouldn't have explored a relationship with Jem, if it weren't for Will's deflections. This is literally a canon event. And Tessa wanted to explore what she had with Jem bc he was very decided and less flakey than Will. Which tbh makes utter sense to me!

But as you can see, later on, once Jem leaves the silent brothers, the way i interpreted this is that, Jem and Tessa became a thing bc of the history they have, the loyalty they have to the trio friendship group and bc Tessa doesn't have Will anymore. It's giving very much "begin again" by Taylor Swift Vibes (not too much but yk kinda that aesthetic). And what I'm trying to say, is that I read the Jessa relationship at a disadvantage when up against Wessa. I think CC would have benefited writing Jessa and Wessa independent, and not collaterally contigent on the happenings of what was going on with the status of the other relationship. And then, on Wessa's side in response to Jem leaving for the Silent Brothers, they didn't want to get together in Book 3, bc Will didn't want to take his best mate's girl away bc his best mate never asks anything of Will and he's also high key dying.

It’s unfair that Wessa happened bc Will felt like there was a curse which gave way for Jessa’s engagement, and conversely, it’s unfair that Wessa only got together once the silent brothers made Jem one of them. So again, the autonomy of these characters are not happening 'authentically' but are happening bc of circumstances.

There is also the accidental (ig) trope that Jem with his illness he was given which in political theory we call, “the children are dying” trope. Which means, you give blanket equity or veto power to someone irrespective of the context of deserving because they are “closer to death” than anyone else. This is THE DRIVING FORCE, of why everyone acts the way they do around poor Jem and it drives him, and us the readers crazy, rightfully so. Jem and Will become friends, not because Will at first fr liked Jem as a person or thought he was a talented shadowhunter, but “because he was dying”, blanket permission for friendship. Tessa was kind to Jem at first because, you guessed it, blanket permission because he is closer to death than she is. They get engaged despite not knowing each other for a long time, conveniently for Jem because, yes, he’s close to death. So much of autonomy is once again stripped from characters around Jem, because most of their actions are respective to his illness. Which is polite, lovely, but it rightfully upsets Jem because he is still a person. Not a a make a wish kid nor a charity case. This was touched on briefly when he said he didn’t want a nurse out of Tessa but a wife. This wasn’t morally delved into deeply save for Tessa’s answer “no I fr like u dude wdym” but than her actions proceed to default back to the “children are dying” complex around him. And we’re only freed from this trope finally once Jem has lived basically the immortal life and is a very changed person after silent brotherhood.

So WTF to do right? Seems like CC built up amazing grounds and complications in these characters, but what to do right? How can she wrap this up in a nice bow? Well CC went naturally via the occam's razor route, which is: Jem becomes a literal monk giving him 'immortality', so circumstantially, the only option JUST SO HAPPENS that Will and Tessa can be together. Again, its not a decision Tessa makes, its a problem that solves itself for Tessa. She goes with Will for now, and maybe in the future, she will go with Jem if he ever leave the silent brothers.

Which again, imo is a bit of a cop out. But CC didn't allow Tessa to put her big girl panties and choose a man. But one thing is clear, which is CC didn't write Will and Jem equal from the start. And it is very clear that Will was written from the beginning as the forbidden love and chosen one. Which is extremely unfair to Jem bc there is so much we could have learned and gained from a Jem pairing that DIDN'T happen bc of the circumstances of Wessa not working out. I truly think that Jem was written with an unfair disadvantage. Like i said, One bc his POV hasn't ever been explored that well. and Two, bc all of Tessa's choices weren't made bc she willed them, but bc CC wrote the circumstances in to take away the choice for her.

Now what I do think is right, is that Jessa, both being immortal are together later on in Shadowhunter Canon. I love Mina and I love what they can be for each other. They make each other happy. And for anyone who says that you can have only 1 love in ur life has a very romantic judeo-catholic view on things XD. U can have many loves in ur life, and each of them can be independent from each other. Love is not mutually exclusive. How is it that you can love unbundently and feel equal love for your multiple pets and children, but not find it in yourself to love more than 2 men? It is entirely possible. And so I do think there is room for Jessa, even if Wessa happened first. And I don't think it is disrespectful or cheating to remarry or find another love after one has ended.

I read criticism about them and how they don't live up to the same version as they were in TID, but i think living hundreds of years does that to you. And i don't think it's the fault of anyone in the pairing to 'bring out' the best in the other, but they can also be very changed people from when they were young. This criticism that they aren't great together later on in life is rooted in their own way of dealing with immortality AND THEN each other. I think what is a pity is that it isn't explored as well as Magnus's immortality has shaped his life which i think again, puts Jessa at a disadvantage. Magnus' continuity as I explained before is given a wider girth than Jessa which is why he is my preferred immortal. But then again, what would Magnus do, if he was immortal forever with his ship? He would be a very changed person he wouldn’t be his own comedic relief that’s for sure. In fact, Camille was not wrong when she said that immortality changes your relationship greatly. Where she fucked up was treating poor babygirl Magnus like shit just in general lol, and being immortal doesn't mean u have to be an asshole. I think immortality truly did a number on Jem and Tessa, irrespective of each other and has not a lot to do with Jem or how he treats her, but a lot about how how Tessa and Jem are quite literally a hundreds of year old great grandma and gramdpa hahahahaha.

But if Will were still alive or immortal like Tessa, would Tessa still be with him now that she has the option of being with Jem forever? Again, we are stripped away from that option because the circumstances decided over the characters. But I do think she would still chose Will.

Final question is, would Herongraystairs actually work? The answer in CC's eyes and again, the occam's razor answer is obviously 'yes'. In fact Tessa herself in Book 3 said it is entirely possible to be in love with 2 people at once and I think poly relationships are a beautiful thing. But is it the easiest and first answer, or is it the TRUE answer? Again, that we will never know bc Tessa's decisions on this matter are in response to the environment she is in, not because she truly believes it.

It is very clear that Will is written all across Tessa's mind in Book 1, and is what she thinks about 24/7. There were times where i was like, "girl just go up to him and JUST EXPLODE UR FEELS ON HIM UR GIVING ME A HEADACHE". But the plot just so conveniently every time they had a moment alone, would get 'interrupted' and the moment was gone. Only after in response to this mess of a situationship, did she go for Jem bc of his ease and what he represented (which we talked about before^) but it wasn't equally organic. It was in response to what happened with Will. Truly we all know, that Tessa would not have even considered Jem, if Will and Tessa decided to be a couple and engage by book 1. And I hate that Jessa read to me as second best, instead of a true, equal 1st place like Wessa. Which is would have to be, in order to have a Herongraystairs. I don't like that CC made Jessa collateral, but tbh i think she didn't know how to chose in the making of TID. So instead of choosing or rewriting the relationship so that both ships were dealt with equally, she made the events of the plot decide for the characters instead.

In defence of CC, a lot of our lives happens in response to our surroundings and circumstances instead of pure Free Will. Which might ironically make Jessa and Wessa and Herongraystairs even more realistic than maybe the idyllic cleanly chosen choices. Life moves fast and we can barely respond to it in time. And what matters most at the end, is that all three of these characters love each other dearly and would be there for each other no matter what. However, the way the plot was almost TOO conveniently choosing everything instead of the characters making hand on heart choices, swings us back to being a bit too unrealistic.

I truly, really love Jessa and I would marry Jem myself lol, but I really disliked the way it wasn't dealt with fairly. I am happy that they end up together at the end, I just didn't like the way they went about it. I would be more sold on Herongraystairs if it was dealt with more evenly instead of the other side of the poly v, instead of being collaterally contingent to the happenings of Wessa. Who knows, CC said that Jessa will re-encounter Will again and not in shadowhunter heaven so i wonder if there is any ability to clean this all up. But bc of the way CC wrote Jessa over how i WISHED she wrote them, Jessa is not in the top 5 ships for me unfortunately. It's def top 10 (and for sure over Clare lol) probablly like 7th place but not top 5. I think there are other relationships in the Shadowhunter fandom that are written a lot more cleanly where the characters are given by CC more autonomy in their choices which makes it easier to follow along. Not to mention get their POVs.

I cannot wait for your own lovely essay on our fav Jem @imabitchforjemcarstairs ! I hope my re-mentioning of it doesn't come across as antsy or like i'm trying to 'remind you' passively lol. Which would be awfully rude. As you can tell, I took my time to reply to this one :). My intention is one of pure excitement, fandom-ing over it and showing support.

art credit: @giannyfili on instagram

#phew wrote this for over an hour! #i hope it was worth the read! #even though this is literally NOTHING u asked for #literally who asked Emma #don’t take a shot every time I say ‘collaterally contingent’ bc u will be drunk by the end of the essay lol #but we have talked about it before! And i finally found the time to give you my unsolicited two thoughts on our favs :) #Justice for Jessa lol #not anti-Jessa just want a better written Jessa #shadowhunters #not anti-jessa #I love jessa #just want a better WRITTEN jessa #Wessa is baby girl tho #muah

[sheisbeautyweareworldass]

what did you think about the end of the book? I'm still trying to figure out how I feel about it, but it was almost underwhelming? after Charles called Christopher little Kit nothing really got to me, like no one else died or even got seriously injured enough for me to be genuinely worried about them & there weren't even that many heartbreaking scenes about kit's death after that?? maybe it's because I read it so late but it felt so... nice and fake in a way. like not even fucking Maurice Bridgestock died, and he's the Inquisitor they always die. like congrats on the divorce Flora but?? idk I expected more & I kinda wish cc hadn't changed the ending to be less sad :( there weren't even emotional scenes like Alastair & Cordelia meeting their baby brother for the first time like??? overall chot was a lot better than I was expecting & I do like it but it also left a lot to be desired :/ anyway sorry about the rant in your inbox lmao

sorry for the late reply and i agree!

i mean, a few things got me after kit’s death, but that’s because i was already emotionally fragilized. i hoped for more, even with christopher’s death… i guess i was expecting more mourning and heartbreak, but save for a few sentences thrown him and there, it was like kit hadn’t died at all. i think cc felt she needed to kill one person for the dramatics and that would be enough to make it believable that the war was hard and the belial was powerful, but as you said, if felt underwhelming - no close calls, no serious injury, nothing besides kit. and it would’ve made sense to see how cecile and gabriel got the news, or even to read about christopher’s death from anna’s pov, but we had nothing of the sorts and it makes me mad. christopher is important enough to other characters to make it easier for a writer to write about the pain and grief, but it seemed to me as cc moved on too quickly, even the intermission: grief, which i hoped would be focused on christopher, was more about matthew and james, who weren’t dead at all. i think a lot of important scenes were brushed over or mentioned, and that takes the emotional value of it. sona giving birth, alastair and cordelia meeting zachary; i would’ve liked to read the scene where thomas came out to his family as it happened, instead of just how he recalled it. i understand chot is a big book and some things had to be cut off, but i’m just sad she chose those scenes to not be included on the final version

also agree about cc changing the ending 😅 i wonder how she imagined it at first and if would be better than this one was. that’s not to say i didn’t cry or anything, because god knows my eyes are still swollen and i’ve cried at the gym, walking back home and while doing the dishes thinking kit, his parents’ reaction, thomas inner monologue and such (the point is that if cc wanted, she could’ve written it instead of making me write it in my head and suffer alone 😭)

i wasn’t expecting it to like chot that as much as i did, specially not after the choi disaster, but i think she balanced the characters well enough, giving everyone a fairly equal number of pages and that made the reading way more pleasing to me

#answered #chot spoilers

[cant-think-of-anything]

There was that whole quote released years ago about someone dying in their love's arms after that person trying to convince themselves they weren't in love, and I'm thinking that might be Anna.

If anyone has to die from the tlh mains I'd pick her (or James but he's 100% not going to die), so maybe that quote is about Anna and she dies.

I also feel like it’s her because of process of elimination

cordelia and lucie are safe because they have that short story that’s set after, i agree that james won’t die, ariadne has to pick a new name by the end, i really really don’t think it’s alastair, it can’t be grace because too many people want her to die for it to be sad, kit was already half dead for half of the first book and i feel like his fire messages are going to work for the first time in that final battle, barbara already died and I refuse to have sophideon lose two children that really only leaves anna or matthew

killing matthew is an easy out of not resolving his character so maybe cc will take it, plus if he turns into a vampire we’ll get another half immortal parabatai duo and we know how cc likes to repeat tropes

personally in my heart i think it’s anna, in my mind ariadne picking a new name is like some kind of rebirth from that, but i also don’t want to get too hung up on wanting to be right

#chain of thorns #anti cc #probably

[alastairstom]

I dont think matt changed, I think cc wanted to do a novella of him since day zero, whereas I think she changed grace edning, Im pretty sure after seeing how hated she was she made her miserable

Yeah, I don't think Matthew's ending would ever have been anything but happy. He is definitely a character who was handled with a lot of love and care, and his was clearly a powerful story that meant a lot to many people.

Cassie always seemed to favour him in that same way she favours Jem/Jace/Magnus, which suits me just fine since he's possibly my favourite fictional character ever.

He was by far the most-teased TLH character along with James, having 2 short stories centered around him and 1 more where we got to see him deteriorate a bit. He was a character that she talked about a lot in the early days of TLH's development. He was also always considered one of 4 main characters alongside the 3 main PoV characters (and I'm pretty sure that he, along with Alastair, gets more overall page time than Lucie, too).

I think Cassie definitely has planned a Matthew novella for a long time, and I don't think that she was ever going to compromise him in a way that could interfere with that.

I'm also very glad that she didn't give him a love interest in the main TLH series, btw. His love interest always had to be himself. He needed to help himself. He had to be the one to spur his own growth. I'm proud that he did.

Matthew's arc was masterfully executed, and I do not think she could have pulled off its wonderful pacing and messaging if it weren't her initial plan.

Onto Grace:

I actually am extraordinarily surprised that Grace survived TLH. I don't think Cassie was miserable seeing how hated Grace was; in fact, I think that Cassie's narrative itself wants the reader to hate Grace, at least a little bit. This is actually one of the reasons that I'm so defensive of Grace. I don't think that she was given the same love and care that other traumatized characters like Matthew and Alastair were given.

I do, in the end, think she changed the Grace ending. I think Grace was meant to die a la Jessamine. But instead, she was allowed to live, and trapped with a group of people who (for totally good and legitimate reasons!) will never, ever fully embrace her. I wish she had been sent to another Institute where she could form new connections with others that she hadn't egregiously wronged (out of fear and terror and abuse). There's nothing tying her to this group besides Jesse, who clearly is no longer fond of her. Should've let her go, but I'm glad that she's at least not dead.

Of course, speculating about the "original ending" or "what was going to happen" is never productive. As Cassie said, there is no "true" alternate ending, which suits me just fine because I love Chain of Thorns, I adore the ending, and I actually only have a few major criticisms about it (most involving Grace). It's all a writing process, and things change over time (as in, one of my OCs initially died in my own novel's draft but she will very much live and hopefully have a spinoff if everything goes to plan).

But, yes. I think Matthew's could never have been any different, and I think Grace's actually improved over time.

#matthew fairchild #grace blackthorn #asked and answered

[anarmorofwords]

Hiii! I love your opinions on TSC and I Hope you don't mind talking about CHOT!

I agree with you on everything. I felt barely nothing reading It. I also didn't get attached to the romances. The Thomastair scene where he says that Thomas is the reason he didn't become like Tatiana and "you keep me human, Tom" was sooo cringe to me. Way over the top and reduce both of the characters to their romance. I understand why people loved It, but I found unbeliaveble.

I read Chot more for Matthew, tbh. I was pleased that she didn't gave him the horrible ending the fandom expected and have him an arc of healing but I wish we saw more of his thoughs and his processo on his pov. And we had the scene where he tells his parents and James about the secret that was a huge part of his character on his pov too. Anyway, so many scenes about family, friendship and grieving that would add so much depht on the book weren't written to give space to (I'm Sorry) boring romance.

Also I wish we saw more of Grace and Jesse sibling relationship.

And I have SO MUCH criticism over Charles' arc and I wanted to know what you think about his character and his arn!

Thank you anyway!

*me running to hug you for this*

i feel so seen, thank youuuu

no like literally, everyone here should know I adore thomastair, and yet... all those romance declarations were so empty

like you said, that line meant nothing to me. it was also kinda out of blue? if he said the same thing to Cordelia, I might have bought it, but to Thomas? Alastair began his change arc way before he and Tom got close, and there were so many other things he could have said. It genuinely felt like something out of a "random cheesy line" generator (and yeah, there's many other things that helped "keep him human" - like his family yikes)

same about Matthew! i was waiting for his pov for all of this series and I'm once again disappointed. maybe she just didn't know how to write addiction from the struggling person's pov, but then again, why did she choose that plotline to begin with? also she will be writing a ss collection about him, so that seems an unlikely reason. probably just, as you said, there were more important things to focus on (like prolonging the bracelet secret for eternity yay )

and when both his revealings of the secret were skipped over? are you kidding me?!

it's just one of many pov decisions I cannot fathom, alongside - no Anna pov of/after Kit's death, no Gabrily pov of their son's death/aftermath of it, no Carstairs meeting their sibling, Ari coming out etc. etc.

i actually think Charles was given the "no child of our previous mains can be an evil person" treatment and some last minute flat redemption arc and I don't buy it. he lacked nuance. i would have liked to see him conflicted, see him torn between some deeply hidden love and sentiment for his loved ones and his cutting ambition and years of being among a rather ruthless crowd. if we're sweeping up all of his being a shitty person under a rug because of the blackmail, it becomes ridiculous. all of the previous books plot becomes ridiculous after this mess of a hastily thrown together resolutions smh.

speaking of Charles - I do think the whole blackmail plotline was a quick and easy way to get both him and the inquisitor out of the way, and you have no idea how anti-climatic it felt. the whole political conflict was just like... oh yeah btw the inquisitor problem and all the prejudice is gone cause he blackmailed someone all good now 🥰

(can we just agree that this whole book was anti-climatic? whenever something was about to happen it just got puff!!!! and then we were reading about the aftermath of it )

(yes to Grace and Jesse!!! I actually think Grace was one of the best parts of ChoT to me)

#the last hours #tlh #shadowhunters #chain of thorns spoilers #chain of thorns #chot spoilers #anti chot #chot critical

[khaleesiofalicante]

What did Alastair say?????????? They weren't together when the divorce happened so did they get together and break up???? Please Dani I Need To Know 🥺

I want to say there was a breakup, yes, just to keep it canon-compliant.

I might focus the Sunday's deleted scene on thomastair so we might see what he said :)

#tlnd

[bamby0304]

The Hart III: Secrets

Ch.26: Teacher to Subject

Series Masterlist

Summary: Three months… Dean was gone for three months and now he’s back. He’s back and he truly has no idea how much things have changed. Life moved on while Dean was in Hell, and now things are complicated. With new faces and troubles right around the corner, will the trio find a way to come back together? Or has all hope been lost?

Warnings: Angst. Violence. Mentions of death & torture.

Bamby

DPOV

I sat in the passenger seat as Sam drove down the road. It was dark now. We'd been driving for a little while, having just come back from the funeral... Pamela's funeral.

"Ruby will meet us outside Cheyenne," Sam stated. "She's been tracking some leads." When I let out a grunt-like sigh, he looked over at me for a moment. "I know she's not exactly on your Christmas list, but if she can help us get to Lilith-"

I cut him off, "Hey, man, work with Ruby, don't. I don't really give a rat's ass."

He frowned, glancing at me again. "What's your problem?"

"Pamela didn't want anything to do with this and we dragged her back into it, Sam."

"She knew what was at stake."

"Oh, yeah." I nodded, though my agitation was only growing. "Saving the world. And we're doing such a damn good job of it."

"Dean-"

Cutting him off again, I snapped a little, "I'm tired of burying friends, Sam."

"Look, we catch a fresh trail..."

"And we follow it, I know," I finished for him. "Like I said, I'm just... I'm just getting tired."

"Well, get angry."

SPOV

"Ah, home crappy home," Dean sighed.

I unlocked the hotel room door, stepping in before Dean followed me. He let out a sigh as he placed his bag on one of the seats at the table while I pulled the key out of the door and turned the light on.

As the lights turned on, we found ourselves looking at both Uriel and Castiel as they stood further in the room. It was obvious that they'd been waiting for us.

"Winchester and Winchester." Uriel looked to both Dean and I.

Dean let out an annoyed groan. "Oh, come on."

Uriel turned his attention to my brother. "You are needed."

"Needed? We just got back from needed." Dean snapped, pushing a button he probably shouldn't be pushing.

I did say to get angry...

"Now, you mind your tone with me," Uriel warned.

Shaking his head, Dean took a few steps closer to the angel, letting his anger and annoyance grow. "No, you mind your damn tone with us."

"We just got back from Pamela's funeral," I explained.

"Pamela. You know, psychic Pamela?" Dean elaborated. “You remember her. Cas, you remember her. You burned her eyes out. Remember that? Good times. Yeah, then she died saving one of your precious seals. So maybe you can stop pushing us around like chess pieces for five freaking minutes!"

"We raised you out of hell for our purposes," was Uriel's only response.

"Yeah, what were those again? What exactly did you want from me?"

"Start with gratitude."

"Oh," Dean scoffed.

Seeing that things weren't going to get better between Uriel and Dean, Castiel finally step forward and spoke up. "Dean, we know this is difficult to understand."

"And we..." Uriel turned to give the other angel a look, a look neither Dean or I missed, "don’t care." He looked to Dean again. "Now, seven angels have been murdered, all of them from our garrison. The last one was killed tonight."

This calmed Dean a little. "Demons?" he asked, earning a short shrug from Uriel. "How they doing it?"

"We don't know," Uriel admitted.

I frowned, not understanding where Dean and I came into the scenario. "I'm sorry, but what do you want us to do about it? I mean, a demon with the juice to ice angels has to be out of our league, right?"

"We can handle the demons, thank you very much," Uriel assured us.

"Once we find whoever it is," Castiel added.

Dean suddenly seemed to understand where they were coming from. "So, you need our help hunting a demon?"

"Not quite." Castiel stepped forward so he was next to Uriel. "We have Alastair."

"Great. He should be able to name your trigger man," Dean noted simply.

"But he won't talk," Castiel explained. "Alastair's will is very strong. We've arrived at an impasse."

Dean nodded. "Yeah, well, he's like a black belt in torture. I mean, you guys are out of your league."

"That's why we've come to his student." Uriel spoke up again, looking directly and only at Dean. "You happen to be the most qualified interrogator we've got."

"Dean, you are our best hope." That was the closest Castiel would ever get to begging.

"No." Dean shook his head. "No way. You can't ask me to do this, Cas. Not this."

Patience gone, Uriel stepped up to Dean. "Who said anything about asking?" He pressed two fingers to my brother's head, and suddenly they were all gone.

"Damn it!"

DPOV

Uriel and Castiel had brought me to an abandoned building, where I now stood in front of a door with a small and murky window on it. Looking through, I could see Alastair chained to a hexacle, in a devil's trap I'd never seen before...

"This devil's trap is old Enochian," Castiel explained. "He's bound completely."

I took a moment longer to look at Alastair, thinking things over as I realised they were being one hundred percent honest. They wanted me to go in there and torture the truth out of him... But did they not know what that would do to me? Did they not see how much I was already struggling? Going in there now, it would irreversibly change me.

"Fascinating." Turning sharping, I walked away. "Where's the door?"

"Where are you going?" Castiel asked without watching me go.

"Hitch back to Cheyenne, thank you very much," I called over my shoulder as I walked past Uriel, only to come to a stop as he then appeared in front of me, blocking my path.

"Angels are dying, boy," Uriel noted from where he stood mere steps away from me, his hands tucked into the pockets of the suit he always wore.

"Everybody's dying these days," I sneered. "And hey, I get it. You're all-powerful. You can make me do whatever you want." I gave a little grin for a moment before letting it drop as I looked over to Castiel. "But you can't make me do this."

Turning to finally look at me, Castiel spoke as he moved to stand with Uriel and I. "This is too much to ask, I know. But we have to ask it."

I watched him for a moment longer, seeing the desperation in his eyes, despite the regular emotionless mask sitting on his face. It was then that I realised how much they needed this. How badly things must be if they were willing to make me do whatever it takes to break Alastair...

Taking a deep breath, I turned to Uriel again. "I want to talk to Cas alone."

He looked from me, to Castiel and then back to me. "I think I'll go seek revelation. We might have some further orders."

I gave a short nod. "Well, get some donuts while you're out."

Uriel laughed, actually amused. "Ah, this one just won't quit, will he? I think I'm starting to like you, boy," with that, he was then gone.

The moment we were alone, I stepped up to Castiel. "You guys don't walk enough. You're gonna get flabby," I joked, getting no reaction from him. "You know, I'm starting to think junk-less has a better sense of humour than you do."

"Uriel's the funniest angel in the garrison. Ask anyone."

Shaking my head, I got to the point. "What's going on, Cas? Since when does Uriel put a leash on you?"

"My superiors have begun to question my sympathies."

"Your sympathies?"

"I was getting too close to the humans in my charge. You. They feel I've begun to express emotions. The doorways to doubt. This can impair my judgment," he explained.

Walking around him so I was closer and facing the door to where Alastair was held, I went on. "Well, tell Uriel, or whoever... you do not want me doing this, trust me."

"Want it? No. But I have been told we need it."

"You ask me to open that door and walk through it... you will not like what walks back out."

"For what it's worth, I would give anything not to have you do this."

I closed my eyes, thinking about the options I had, but really there were none. I either go in there willingly, or they drag me in. I wasn't leaving this place until the job was done. Until I'd dug the information out of Alastair, and then dug a little more. They would milk this opportunity until there was nothing left, and I had no say in the matter... but that doesn't mean I'd can't get something out of it.

Opening my eyes, I turned to him again. "Fine. But you have to do something for me."

"Dean-"

Before he could argue, I cut him off, giving my demands, "You let Sam know I'm fine. We left him there, and I know he'll be worried about me." I could practically feel the concern from here. "And I want you to tell me where Liz is. Tessa said you were keeping something from me."

He frowned. "Elizabeth?"

"Yeah, you know. Blonde hair, blue eyes. About this tall." I levelled my hand to my chest. "Small body, big attitude. Moves things with her mind."

His frown simply grew as he watched me for a moment longer before something seemed to click. But even then, he didn't tell me what I wanted to know. "It's not my place to-"

Before he could finish his sentence, I stepped forward, getting in his personal space. I didn't care that he was a powerful angel, or that could wipe my off the face of the Earth in the blink of an eye. All that mattered to me at that moment, was finding out where Liz was, and making sure she was okay.

"I don't care what your douche bag bosses say. Tell me what you're hiding," I demanded.

He looked into my eyes, a stern look on his face as he contemplated his options before he finally spoke, giving me what I wanted. "Elizabeth... Tristan, her boyfriend... he isn't who he says he is."

I froze. "What's that supposed to mean?" When he stayed silent, I took yet another step towards him, with tense shoulders and clenched fists. "What are you talking about, Castiel?"

"He isn’t a hunter… we don’t know what he is."

EPOV

I woke up in pain, but strangle enough I was in less pain now than I'd been in for days. Looking down at my blood-soaked shirt, I lifted it enough to see the fresh scar on my stomach. After the last time I'd died, when Tristan had saved me, I figured out that even though I come back and the wound heals, a scar always remains...

Great. Just another to add to the ever-growing list. I groaned as I sat up a little more, looking around.

I was still in Tristan's cabin, still lying on the couch in the living room. It was dark out. I had no idea how long I'd been unconscious... or well, dead. I had no idea where Tristan was, or where anyone was really, and I had no way of getting out of here.

Actually...

An idea formed in my head, but I instantly regretted it. Asking them for help was the last thing I wanted to do. Besides, I was pretty sure none of the would come to help me anyway. I mean, I'm not Dean, I'm not important. I'm just the Winchester's tag-along...

But there was nothing else I could do. I had no reception, no car. I was in too much pain to walk to the main road and even if I did there was still little chance that someone might actually pick me up. It looked like, if I wanted to get out of here, I was going to have to speak up and ask.

"Here goes nothing." I took a deep breath as I brought my hands together, closed my eyes, and began to pray. “Look, I know I'm not your favourite person right now… or ever... but I need help. I know I've done wrong. I know there are things that you wish I wouldn't have done, and I'm sorry for it all. I didn't know what was happening to me. I didn't realise. I had no control. So, please. Please, help me.”

Opening one eye, I looked around and waited for a moment, but nothing happened. Not even the wind stirred.

DPOV

I was raging, which I guess is a good thing seeing as I was about to torture Alastair himself. But I wasn't really thinking about that as I wheeled a cart into the room where the demon was held. No, instead I couldn't stop wondering.

Wondering why Castiel hadn't said something sooner. Wondering if Liz knew Tristan was lying. Wondering how I hadn't seen it earlier. Wondering what he might be. Wondering if he'd hurt her. Wonder where she might be. Wondering if she was even alive. Wondering if I would ever see her again. I just couldn't stop wonder...

"Heaven, I'm in heaven, and my heart beats so that I can hardly speak," Alastair began to sing and attempt to dance where he was chained as he watched me enter, a grin on his face. "I seem to find the happiness I seek, when we're out together dancing cheek to cheek..."

Stopping the cart just outside the devil's trap, I then pulled the cloth off it, revealing an assortment of torture implements. Alastair began to laugh lightly as I continued to ignore him, still raging.

"I'm sorry." He tried to settle himself. "This is a very serious, very emotional situation for you. I shouldn't laugh, it's just that... I mean, are they serious? They sent you to torture me?"

Turning away from the cart, I moved to stand in front of him, just a step or two away. "You got one chance. One. Tell me who's killing the angels. I want a name."

"You think I'll see all your scary toys and spill my guts?"

"Oh, you'll spill your guts, one way or another. I just didn't wanna ruin my shoes."

He looked down at my shoes. "Oh, yeah."

"Now answer the question."

"Or what? You'll work me over? But then, maybe you don't want to. Maybe you're, uh, scared to."

"I'm here, aren't I?"

"Not entirely. You left part of yourself back in the Pit. Let's see if we can get the two of you back together again, shall we?"

"You're gonna be disappointed," I told him, turning away and moving back to the cart, before I began to get everything ready.

"You have not disappointed me so far. Come on. You gotta want a little payback for everything I did to you. For all the pokes and prods. Hm?" he asked, getting nothing from me. "No? Um... how about for all the things I did to your daddy?"

SPOV

As soon as I opened the hotel room door, Ruby walked in. "I can still smell them." She turned her face up as she walked to the middle of the room before looking back at me. "Seriously, Sam, I'm not exactly dying to tangle with angels again."

"I need you to find out where they took Dean," I explained as I closed the door.

"Not sure I see the problem. You know they have Alastair strung up six ways from Sunday," she noted, putting her bag down on the table. "Dean cuts himself a slice, Al's reduced to a quivering heap, and the good guys get the goods. What's wrong with that?"

"He can't do it."

She rolled her eyes. "Look, I get it. You don't want him going all torture master again."

"No. I mean, he can't do it. He can't get the job done," I told her. "Something happened to him downstairs, Ruby. He's not what he used to be. He's not strong enough."

"And you are?"

"I will be."

DPOV

"I had your pop on my rack for close to a century," Alastair explained, trying to push my buttons. But I wasn't going to let it work. I had a job to do.

"You can't stall forever."

"John Winchester." He just kept on going. "Made a good name for himself. A hundred years. After each session, I'd make him the same offer I made you. I'd put down my blade if he picked one up."

"Just give me the demon's name, Alastair."

Ignoring me, he went on. "But he said nein each and every time. Oh, damned if I couldn't break him." As I tugged my leather jacket off, he sighed. "Pulled out all the stops, but John, he was, well, made of something unique. The stuff of heroes. And then came Dean. Dean Winchester. I thought I was up against it again."

Grabbing one of the bottles from the table, I took a drink, needing the burn of the strong alcohol to keep me going, to get me going.

"But daddy's little girl, he broke. He broke in thirty. Oh, just not the man your daddy wanted you to be, huh, Dean?" he chuckled lightly. "Now... Now we're getting somewhere." I grabbed a metal bowl and poured some water from a large bottle that had a rosary in it, into the bowl. "Holy water?" he groaned. "Come on. Grasshopper, you're gonna have to get creative to impress me."

I looked up then, turning to him. "You know something, Alastair? I could still dream. Even in hell. And over and over and over, you know what I dreamt? I dreamt of this moment." he began to look nervous as I picked the needle up. "And believe me, I got a few ideas." I filled the needle with some of the holy water, before lifting the needle and spraying some out. Walking over to Alastair, I stopped a step away, lifting the needle so he could see it. "Let's get started."

SPOV

I stood by Ruby by the hotel room table as she held a candle to a corner of the map on the table, chanting something I'd never heard before. I watched as the flame spread across the maps edges and grow... I suddenly wasn't feeling too good about this plan.

"Relax. The fire is our friend," Ruby assured me. "Besides, the only part of the map we need is the 'where's Dean?' part," she explained, looked up at me with her black eyes before she turned to the map. "Out," she ordered.

Just like that, the flames vanished, leaving the map charred to the point where everything was unreadable, except for a small circle in the middle. That part appeared to be completely untouched by the fire.

"There." Ruby gestured to the only part of the map remain, her eyes now back to normal. "Your brother's there." Walking around the table, she moved to lean against the bench. "It's a good thing angels aren't concerned with hiding their dirty business. Not used to being spied on." Shrugging she turned to give me a small smirk. "I mean, who'd be stupid enough to try?"

Her words made me think about what I was actually doing, and if I could. I knew I was getting stronger lately, but was I strong enough now? Could I really go in there, and get what we needed from Alastair? Was I ready for that?

No. But I would be. As soon as I had what I needed.

"Ruby, it's been weeks." I turned to her. "I need it."

"You don't seem too happy about it," she noted.

"You think I wanna do this?" I asked, moving to sit on my bed. "This is the last thing I-" I took a deep breath. "But I need to be strong enough."

Walking over, she moved to straddle me, sitting on my lap as she looked down at me. "It's okay. It's okay, Sammy. You can have it." She pressed a kiss to my lips.

When she pulled away, I was surprised to see the knife already in her hand. Bring the blade to her arm, she cut herself, letting the wound bleed as I watched. Once the knife moved away from her, I leaned in, pressing my lips to the cut, drinking her blood.

It felt different every time. It felt better. I felt stronger. This is exactly what I needed. Now, there was no stopping me.

"It's okay, Sam," Ruby assured me as she stroked my hair.

Bamby

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