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rinadragomir · 2 months

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My thoughts on the couples included in Better in Black for those who care

I expect you to write down yours so work work

📍Wessa

You know, as a dedicated Jessa stan I wanna say that it's okay~ Because these two were together for 50 years or sth, there's still some things to add. We might watch them in their 30s, 50s, 60s. I guess at this point both camps have around the same amount of content. Plus I'll have Jessa in twp so I'm in peace 🌱

📍Clace

All my first thoughts are over here. I'm a Clace defender, I'm their oldest stan, I'm a veteran👩‍🦳 So I feel like I have a right to say that...it was kinda unnecessary. We've witnessed every step in their relationship so far, beginning of it in TMI, gentle transition to adulthood in TDA and Tales of Shadowhunter Academy, adulthood in SOBH and proposal. So if the story isn't about their wedding then WHAT THE HELL IS IT ABOUT REALLY? And we know that they won't get married until twp.

📍Anna & Ari (Arianna!)

Hey🥺that is nice, we've seen so little of them in chain of thorns and I've loved them since their debut in 2018 in that short story. I'm very biased when it comes to TLH, cause I'm their mother. So YAY🌱they have a long way to go, Anna still needs to change a tiny little bit for them to be healthy, so I'd love to witness it

📍Jordelia

We all have known about it, because Cassie kinda promised us their story a while ago. Wedding runes scene, honeymoon, kids, mortgage etc. Go kids, slay, serve, eat and so on, I'm excited for u!

📍Sebastian & Seelie Queen

🤨🧐🤔👁👁

Yeah... That famous Sebastian &Fanbase. Like... I'm conflicted, because it's useless and doesn't make any sense even tho it might slay. Listen up, I'll show you.

Lots of people defend it by saying that it might be important for Ash's background in TWP. But... No it's not. Because this is exclusive book made for few people who were lucky and financially stable enough to get it. It won't be posted online. So most people won't read it unless someone leaks it. So there's no point for that story to be important for the plot, therefore it has nothing to do with it.

And it's definitely not "one of the most beloved" couples. BUT LIKE... WHAT IF IT SLAYS? Toxic, unhinged romance, what if I'll love it? 🤡

📍Jemma

So you see the problem? Because it's the same as Clace. What else might she add, because there's nothing. SoBH ended like yesterday. We know exactly where they live rn, their daily routine, their plans. So there's nothing to add between SOBH and twp. What will it be about? Hard to say, but I hope Cassie will come up with sth interesting for them.

📍Thomastair (why did Cassie say Alistair instead of Alastair, I'm lost help me)

Yay🥺slay, serve, eat and leave no crumbs, go, kill it idk you're doing great boys, there's so much to add and explore because they've just started dating. I'm so excited ^-^

📍Kierartkina

That is fine. No matter what I think about their relationship, because in my point of view Cristina and Kieran fell in love because Cassie said so apparently, I still don't mind them being there. Because there's also lots of things to discuss and explore. I hope the story will be soft and warm☀they've just started their advantage so it definitely makes sense

📍Sizzy

Even though we've had lots of them in TMI and Shadowhunters Academy I still think they deserve to be here. They are famous (I guess? 👁👁) and I'd like to know more about their plans for future. Simon was still a teenager in the stories collection and now I'd love to see him as a grown man being in relationship with the woman he loves.

📍Luke & Jocelyn

👁👁🤨🧐🤔👀

Well... That was... Unexpected. I guess... I've just never met their fandom but I hope it's huge af, because I don't know why else would they be here. Sophideon, Gabrily and Charlotte with Henry were supposed to be here, let's be honest. But since they're here, I do think Cassie is able to make a decent story. I expect it to be bittersweet, angsty and somehow heartwarming. I think there's nothing to say except let's wait and find out.

OVERALL I think it's pretty fine. Maximum 7/10 from me. I was ready to face the worst, but it turned out to be... Fine. So it's fine☺🌱

#seasons of shadowhunters #tsc #sobh #tlh #cassandra clare #chain of thorns #wessa #jemma #arianna #anna lightwood #ari bridgestock #jordelia #sizzy #kierarktina #thomastair #tda #tmi #the wicked powers

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1indigoisles · 2 months

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When you just realised that in the entirety of TSC, there are only two lesbian couples (Arianna, Heline) and one of them is just a side couple, and you see Arianna in Better in Black.

And then you're sorta optimistic, 'cause now you're hoping for Heline too.

You go through the rest, and you're pleasantly surprised to find Kierarktina, Thomastair, and Sizzy too.

But then you are mentally disturbed, because you also found SEBASTIAN AND THE SEELIE QUEEN instead.

I HAVE QUESTIONS.

Why, CC, why? Is it to give context on the birth of Ash Morgenstern? Is it the Seelie Queen telling Sebastian she's pregnant? Because they definitely don't have that kind of relationship, the kind we actually ship. Better in Black's theme is love and romance, but what love and romance is there between them? They were just using each other, and Sebastian died! Is this an easter-egg story where we find out some things about TWP? Is their Better in Black story not exactly about Sebastian and the Seelie Queen at all? CC, you better not be playing with us.

Onto a slightly less bewildering topic, am I the only Malec fan who wasn't surprised to not find a story about them in Better in Black? Like HELLO, they are the TSC couple with the highest amount of content, even more than Clace. Apart from TMI, they have their own separate series, four short stories, and are included in other series as well (TDA, TWP). And the amount of ART on them is wild. So no, I am not unhappy that CC didn't include them. While I wouldn't have minded if she had either, you have to admit she was only being reasonable.

Okie, thank you for coming to my rant!

#cassandra clare #the mortal instruments #the dark artifices #the last hours #the wicked powers #heline #arianna #thomastair #sizzy #malec #sebastian morgenstern #the seelie queen #better in black #seasons of shadowhunters

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margareturtle · 7 months

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So excited for all of the fluff in TWP 🥰

Clace + Sizzy weddings (maybe they already happened so we’ll get a short story at the end)

Tavvy’s First Rune (prob won’t get to see it but he will be 10 in TWP!!)

Someone’s Parabatai Ceremony (Dru+Thais, Dru+Kit, Kit+Ash, Dru+Jaime—depending on his aging in faerie) idk who but it’s not a shadowhunter series without a main set of parabatai so it’s gotta be one of them!!

Babies!!! Manifesting Baby Carstairs II and Baby Herondale

Kit is going to the 1989 World Tour with Magnus!!

Dru and Thais taking a trip into the city to see Chicago and/or Wicked on broadway!! (And Hamilton— it also began summer 2015)

Ash being adopted by Jace and Clary!!!

Kit and Ty communicating!!

(So much fun zero angst 😍)

#live laugh delulu #baby herondale #baby carstairs II #kit x ty #the wicked powers #the dark artifices #kit herondale #ash morgenstern #the mortal instruments #clace #ty blackthorn #dru blackthorn #thais pedroso #clary fairchild #jace herondale #magnus bane #kit herondale is a swiftie #dru is a theater kid #tavvy is a theater kid

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maddiesfandommess · 2 months

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I feel like the Magnus and Alec have too much content arguments for them not being in Better than Black just don't hold up. Like, Clary and Jace have six books, SIX. People are saying that Magnus and Alec have their own trilogy, okay? Literally every other main couple in a trilogy is featured other than Magnus and Alec. Also I don't really think it's fair to put Magnus and Alec's trilogy on the same level as the others because of we're being honest they are not to the same level of quality. The Eldest Curses books are consistently the shortest in the series, lean very heavily on outside material and are pretty clearly treated as more of a side project than a main series trilogy. People are saying that they have four short stories, yeah that's only to make up for their lack of inclusion in TMI. Like I think to make the claim that they have more content than Clace is frankly ridiculous and to say that they have too much content to be included alongside every other lead couple is incredibly unfair

#better in black #malec #TEC #the eldest curses #clace #sorry for talking so much about this reveal I have thoughts and feelings

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mayaheronthorn · 6 months

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rank the Shadowhunter couples from best to idc about them and why?

Amazing!!! And I will probably get hate 🤣🤣🤣

1. KitTy - what a surprise huh?! But you could tell 🤣 and I actually explained it in my last post!

2. Herongraystairs - YES, I AM NOT DIVIDING IT AS WESSA AND JESSA BECAUSE THEY BELONG TOGETHER, change my mind (YOU CAN'T) This was the first time in my entire life when I read a book and couldn't decide which love interest I prefer, so I just didn't 😍 I can't believe how cc wrote them so perfectly, truly peak

3. Thomastair - I had a hard time deciding if they are nr 3 or 4 but I feel like I prefer them slightly more than nr 4 BECAUSE Alastair is so incredibly brave. After all that happened with his father, he still did everything to protect Cordelia and Sona. His character development is one of the best in the whole tsc. And Thomas my sweet summer child 😭 his kindness is out of this world. TO THIS DAY I remember those fucking Paris dates 😭😭😭😭

4. Malec - Cc can really write her mlm couples. Their devotion to each other 🥺 I will forever remember that Alec was the first shadowhunter Magnus ever dated because well he was a Downworlder but Alec saw so much more in him 😭 ok I'm gonna keep this short cause it will take me forever to answer 🤣

5. Gracetopher - YES I KNOW IT DIDN'T HAPPEN BUT IT HAPPENED IN MY HEART. In my mind my little asexual genius couple live happily ok? Grace is such a misunderstood character, she's a child of abuse, she was made to do so many bad things, manipulated as hell but she still wanted to change and be good. And Christopher 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 MY POOKIE I CAN'T SPEAK ABOUT HIM CAUSE I'M GONNA CRY

6. Jordelia - Cordelia was, is and always will be THE bad bitch. The ending of chain of gold when she told EVERYONE that she and James were fucking? ICOOONIC. But she's the bravest baby ever. James is this cute and gentle young man but in reality he will kill you 😍 they complete each other PERFECTLY, the tension between them in chain of iron changed me as a person, I will never be the same. ALTHOUGH they would be so much higher if not for chain of thorns... Like... This book just destroyed so many things I can't ☠️

7. Blackstairs - The tension between them when Emma was "dating" Mark, oh good god glorious. You know, Julian actually reminds me so much of James but he's SO MUCH MORE DISASTROUS, he's a fucking menace and I love that. His sexy brain did things to me 😎 Emma, my second bad bitch (I guess Cortana wielders are all that way) killing a Rider of Mannan??? I'm a goner for girl fighters. MY NEXT JACE HERONDALE. Julian will forever need Emma and Emma will forever need Julian 💕

8. Markkierantina - My poly cuties 🥺 it was the same as with herongraystairs, I couldn't decide if I want Mark with Cristina, Mark with Kieran or Kieran with Cristina, but cc corrected her mistake with herongraystairs and made them all smash. Amazing. Cristina was a key to make Mark and Kieran's relationship work, that's all I'm gonna say

9. Clace - That will probably surprise some of you but I kinda lost this clace magic along the way of reading tsc. I absolutely love them as characters and Jace is one of the funniest bitches. Idk, I don't feel it as much as I used to. But well I was 13 when I read tmi and now I'm 23 so 🤣 I still remember that 4-6 tmi books broke me emotionally so I have this great sentiment for Clace but we have many more couples that I love more 🥺

10. AriAnna - I fell in love with them when I read gotsm and I rooted for them SO HARD in cog and coi, I couldn't get enough of that tension. And then cot happened.... It felt like cc just decided to drop them, gave them an easy ending just to get rid of them... So I was greatly disappointed. And I know that if not for cot they would be higher

11. LucieJessie - Honesty (and I say this with great sadness) I was bored reading their story in cog and coi, they were just so bland to me, I don't know 😭 BUT cot made everything change. When Jessie came back to life he was SO FUN TO READ I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!! I loved them and I'm sad that it wasn't like that from the beginning

12. Sizzy - I know, I know. But I never felt them 💀 I mean, yes I love them together and I love their characters but I don't see the magic 😭😭😭 I WANT TO

13. GwynDiana - Oh they were SO IMPORTANT TO ME 😭 I adored every minute but they didn't have much chapters so 😫

14. GideonSophie - Honestly I read tid years ago and I don't remember shit, I know that I liked them and Gideon was a babe to her 💕

15. CecilyGabriel - Same as 14, I don't remember shit, but I know I liked them less than Gideon and Sophie 💀

I hope I didn't forget about anyone!!

#cassandra clare #the wicked powers #kit herondale #the shadowhunter chronicles #ty blackthorn #tsc #twp #the dark artifices #malec #jordelia #clace #mark kieran cristina #thomastair #sizzy #herongraystairs #gracetopher #blackstairs #luciejesse

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thestarkster1465 · 1 month

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In defense of the Clace and Sebastian/Seelie Queen stories in Better in Black:

I know people are disappointed that we didn't get more of other ships (malec for instance, or some tlh ships) but poor Clace is getting unfairly caught in the middle.

Yeah yeah I know we got an entire series about them but we didn't really get to see what happens after the series. I'm not the biggest Clace shipper (herongraystairs my loves come first always) and they're not even my favourites in the TMI series (sizzy nation rise) but the thing is, for most ships we get to see the happily ever after once their story ends. We see Will and Tessa having cute domestic moments in TLH and TBC, we get Malec and Jessa's happy married life in GotSM, and so on. We see quite a bit of married Malec and them raising their kids, in fact. Second only to Wessa, and that is up for argument too. All we have for Clace is a couple of brief moments in TDA and some references in GotSM. We don't actually get to see their happily ever after. I don't expect their story to 'do' anything beyond being a fluffy one chapter look into their lives, and that's okay. That's deserved, even. We ought to get to see how they're doing at the end of it all (before everything goes wrong again in TWP). I feel like we owe the duo that started it all that much.

Also about Sebastian and the Seelie Queen, I don't understand why people are pissed. It's not like you're expected to change your mind and root for them, but knowing something about them sounds interesting. It's a window to Ash, if nothing else. It's probably a fucked up story but that's the whole point of it. TftSA had the story of the Blackthorn brothers kidnapped by the Faerie, GotSM had that one story about Celine, Valentine and Stephen, and TBC had the Magnus and Camille saga. One story devoted to the darker side of the Shadowhunter world has always been the norm for the short story collections in TSC books, and why not? It adds to the depth of the world. If all the stories were about the healthy couples who ended up together and their sweet moments I feel like that would be a very tiresome set of stories.

#tsc #better in black #gotsm #tbc #tftsa #jace herondale #clary fairchild #sebastian morgenstern #the seelie queen #im back bitches better in black dragged me back into tsc #cant escape this damn series

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alastairstom · 6 months

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Can you rank ur fav to least fav couples in the shadowhunter world and why u rank them there 🤪🫶?

I definitely have done this before lol but sure! I'm only going to provide short reasons for most of them, though, because there are so many. I'm only including endgame ships (with one exception) because otherwise this list would be insane.

Thomastair (tied with Wessa) -> So hopeful. So healing. Soulmates right there. Best friends in love. Share interests. Perfectly-matched dispositions. They love every part of each other, even when those parts are snappish or petty. Loving someone's flaws, the pretty and the ugly, always gets me. The heart in this ship hits hard. Also, a ship where I love and adore both characters individually as well as together.

Wessa (tied with Thomastair, put slightly lower because their story makes me sad sometimes) -> Another ship where two of my individual faves get together. It's the BOOKISHNESS of it all, the banter, the joy, the love. They have perfect chemistry, and like Tessa says, Will is a person like her. They let each other shine. He lets her bejeweled. Also they're super funny together, like they should form a comedy duo.

Gracetopher -> Deserved better. Deserved the WORLD. Aggg this had the potential to be healing and hopeful in a similar way to Thomastair. I love both individual characters, though I'm not as attached to them as Thomas, Alastair, Will, or Tessa. Or Matthew, #1 fave, who isn't on this list.

Sophideon -> Their entire courtship is hilarious. Scone incident? Blurted proposal? Awkward himbo meets headstrong girl will never fail.

Malec -> So nostalgic for me. They're really well written and have a great arc. They make me feel like a giddy teenager again as I was when I read TMI for the first time.

Ragnor/Catarina -> The only non-canon ship on this list. I see the vision.

Jordelia -> This may come as a surprise since I think their dynamic is a bit boring to watch. But I love Cordelia and James clearly makes her happy.

Gwynburn -> The only good thing about TDA. Such a good story.

Gabriely -> Adorable and funny

Chenry -> Adorable.

KitTy -> They have a LOT of potential, but I don't quite see it yet. Still, I'm excited to learn more about them, and they very well could move up this list a lot.

Clace -> Cute. Gotta respect the OGs.

Haline -> Hilarious. Fun. By far TSC's superior sapphic ship.

Dru/Ash -> Currently neutral, but potential.

Sizzy -> Neutral feelings

Maia/Bat -> Neutral feelings

Ghostwriter -> Great story! Unfortunately, the characters are both extremely lackluster imo so it never realizes its full potential

Arianna -> Toxic AF, Ari could do better, but okay I guess. I don't care enough to get pressed, and I like Ari, so they stay here.

Luke/Jocelyn -> They exist

Kierarktina -> Queen of the savior complex, lowkey asshole, and highkey asshole? Poorly developed polyamory. Nope.

Jemma Blackstairs -> God I hate both of these characters. At least they deserve each other, though. 0/10.

Jessa -> Don't like Jem, boring dynamic, he doesn't let her bejeweled and her sparkle is dulled around him so much. Do not see the appeal. Literally they are ruining new content for me left and right, I plan to skip all of their scenes for the rest of TSC unless there are Blorbo Mentions.

Is that it? I think that's it. I hope I didn't forget anyone.

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idk-i-just-really-like-tsc · 3 months

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clace short story in the better in black book !!! thank GOODNESS!!!!!

#MY BABIES #clace

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vierss-herondale · 2 years

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Clace Fanfic Recommendation of the Week

Title: Clace Stories Author: AshTMI17 Summary: Taking Clace prompts rated K-M. Ratings will be at the top of each one shot. Others: Rated: Fiction T - English - Chapters: 16 - Words: 47,387 - Compilation of One-Shots Link: https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11514098/1/Clace-Stories Site: Fanfiction.net

This is a compilation of OneShots. I really liked them, they are well written and they go from fluff, smut, angst, happy and sad moments, it has a lot of variety in the stories. There are long and short ones.

My favorite though it's the 12: "Thanksgiving Loving"

You can find more of my fanfic recommendations under the tag: Clace Fanfic Recommendation of the Week.

I want to clarify that I'm not going to rate the fics, I just want to share my thoughts and the stories with you, in case you are interested in reading them. And also I want to keep a record of my reaction to some of the fanfics that I read and to promote some of the stories that I came across that I think deserve more recognition.

I also want you to feel free to ask me for recommendations if you have a favorite trope/ theme/ idea regarding Clace fanfiction and/or One shots. I have a lot of Clace fics in my Fanfiction.net list that I have yet to post, so it's very likely that I have read one that would suit your taste 🌻☺️

#clace fanfic recommendation of the week #clace #clary fairchild #clary fray #clary herondale #jace herondale #jace wayland #jace lightwood #jace lightwood herondale #the mortal instruments #tmi #dailyclace #clace fanfic #clace fanfiction #fanfiction

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daily-clace · 1 year

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Hi, guys! 🌻

✨This is a blog dedicated to daily posts about Clary Fairchild and Jace Herondale✨

The purpose of the blog it's to keep the Clace fanbase alive, to help you connect with other Clace shippers and to promote all kinds of Clace content! ♥️

So feel free to tag me in your Jace and Clary content or in any post that you would like me to reblog! It doesn’t need to be your post. The content can be: Edits, drawings, fanfics, oneshots, gifts sets, moodboards, headcanons, random Clace related thoughts or asks, extra content, fanfic recommendations, quotes, basically anything Jace and Clary related 🎨🎹🗡️❤️

You can find a post with most of the extra Clace content, like short stories or extended scenes (such as the Clace engagement scene) on here:

I also try to tag the posts with "clace art" or "clace moodboard" or "clace quotes", in case you are looking for a specific kind of content, so you can search for the tag on the blog (:

If you are looking for fanfic recommendations, you can search in the tag "clace fanfic recommendation of the week". I post those on my main blog but I always reblog them here, so you should be able to find them. I know how hard it's to find a good Clace fic! 📚

And remember that my ask box it's always open 💖

Main blog @vierss-herondale 🌻

You can also find me on twitter as: Velzyre ☺️✨

Art by Cassandra Jean 🌸

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simplyclary · 7 months

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My (Personal) Thoughts on Seasons of Shadowhunters

Note: These are my personal thoughts about Cassie's latest project. Feel free to comment and reply down below and share your thoughts as well.

Recently, one of my favorite authors Cassandra Clare announced a Kickstarter project and it's all about Shadowhunters. I was excited when she hinted at it on her IG stories and was even more excited (with a few mixed feelings) when I finally got the email about the project itself.

My thoughts on this entire project will be broken down into segments/parts (so it won't be long paragraphs without breakers) so if you wanna hear my thoughts, do continue.

Part 1: Secrets of Blackthorn Hall

To be honest with you all, I'm not excited about this one. Well, it could be because it's available online (and here on Tumblr) so maybe that contributed to my non-existent excitement for it. I will also admit that I did not read every single entry of SoBH, I only read like the ones I cared about (Tessa's letter to Sophie is one of them) and the others, I may or may not have skimmed.

Art-wise, the art is beautiful, no doubt. But still, I'm quite skeptical about this one so maybe when it eventually comes, I might change my mind.

Part 2: Careful of Books Novellas

I am honestly not the biggest fan of novellas. I mean, I do read them to further understand the characters of a certain story (I did read A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas even though it was just the characters having a domestic Winter Solstice).

With this one, I am partly excited, partly not. I have no idea why but the closer it comes, I may be persuaded to be excited about it. It will feature a character whose future is interesting (I can only guess who that is...) and of course, it is set in the Shadowhunter universe (which timeline, I have no idea.)

I got to admit, novellas are fun but like it's not as fun as full-length novels with higher stakes and whatnot so I guess that is also part of it but I'll just have to see where we go from here.

Part 3: Notable Shadowhunters

Now, this is more of a collectible than a book because this will most probably contain more photos than words, which I'm not complaining about. It's always good to have fanart of your favorite Shadowhunters characters. I used to want to own the illustrated book but over time, that feeling kind of went away. I am a practical gal most of the time and I just thought that these photos would be scattered online anyway so if I favored a specific character's card, I would just get it online and print it myself if I desire to.

I'm not sure whether I will purchase it when it comes but who knows, maybe with some convincing, I might be persuaded.

Part 4: Better In Black Short Stories

This is probably what I'm most excited for. I adore the first three short story collections (Tales from the Shadowhunter Academy, Ghosts from the Shadow Market and The Bane Chronicles) and this is probably not gonna be any different. I'm a romance lover by nature and to know that this might feature some of my favorite Shadowhunters couples makes me a little bit more excited. I mean, to be fair, I prefer some couples more than others but getting stories about the prominent couples are not out of the question for me.

I'm looking forward (and slightly hoping) to maybe seeing my favorite couples Simon and Izzy, Thomas and Alastair, Clary and Jace, and Magnus and Alec take the spotlight but I'm not opposed to the idea that other couples (Jem and Tessa, Julian and Emma, etc..) will also be featured since romance is a big aspect in the fantastical tales of the Shadowhunters. Plus, it's never seen before content, so that kind of adds to the hype.

I just need the Clace and Sizzy wedding plus Thomas and Alastair living together, if you get what I mean, okay?

Part 5: The Compass Rose Journal

I may or may not have screamed when I saw this in the email because as a fan of Thomas Lightwood, his compass rose is a sentimental symbol to me and to own a journal with that very symbol, oh, I can dream but I guess it's coming.

And for art to be included, uhm, yes please! Although I honestly thought it would just be like a notebook with like the compass rose etching on the cover but I guess I was wrong.

Conclusion

These are all my thoughts. I may have not worded it all well because I did mention in a previous post that I kind of drifted away from the Shadowhunters fandom for a while now but maybe with this upcoming content, my heart might go back to the shadows or stay in the sunshine where it currently resides. ;)

With that, I say, Hail and Farewell, Angels!

#the last hours #the mortal instruments #the infernal devices #the dark artifices #shadowhunters #the shadowhunters chronicles

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beclynn-herondale · 3 years

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Yeh , I am still not over their engagement scene and I will ever be over it, this made me love them ten times more (I didn't know that was possible but it did)

#clary fray #clary fairchild #jace herondale #jace lightwood herondale #clary x jace #clace #a love that never tires #tsc #the shadowhuter chronicles #tmi #the mortal instruments #we jace you a clary christmas #clace short stories

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bytheangell · 4 years

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You Can't Keep Safe What Wants to Break

(Read on AO3)

Magnus probably shouldn’t be here for this conversation, but Jace is waiting for them when Magnus portals them back to the Institute from Idris. Jace is eagerly awaiting the response from the Council meeting, nervously pacing back and forth in Alec’s office where they thought they’d have a bit more time to figure out how to break the news to him. Alec planned on doing it alone, with Magnus at home preparing the strongest cocktails he can manage short of inducing alcohol poisoning to deal with the aftermath. Instead, Alec shoots Magnus a quick, pleading glance, and Magnus doesn’t have the heart to try and make a quick exit with them both in front of him like this.

Neither of them is ready for the conversation that’s about to happen.

One look at their faces and Jace doesn’t have to wait for either of them to speak to know what news they have for him.

“Jace…” Alec starts, but it’s no use.

“They said no,” Jace says for him, crestfallen.

“There was nothing we could do,” Magnus tries. “We pulled every favor we had.” It’s true - they really did try everything short of actual bribery to get the discussion and the votes to go their way… and, okay, maybe a little actual bribery Alec doesn’t need to know about, but even that wasn’t enough.

“They wouldn’t let go of the fact that the Angels took her memories and her abilities, and essentially kicked her out of the Shadow World. They don’t want to risk letting her back in. They’re scared,” Alec says, not that Jace needs to hear it. He’s heard that argument time and time again ever since Clary remembered him at her art show that night… ever since he started seeing her regularly, and reforming a relationship with her.

Ever since he wanted her to be part of his life - part of all of their lives - again.

But the Nephilim have strict rules about mundanes being intimately involved with Shadowhunters, rules that have to be followed to keep them out of the Shadow World. And without her abilities, without everything that once made her one of them, that’s all Clary is to them. A mundane.

“I can’t lose her again,” Jace says, sounding broken and lost. “I just got her back, I can’t let her go.”

“I’m sorry,” Alec offers as if this final verdict from the Council means the discussion is over, topic closed. Magnus knows the look in Jace’s eyes, though. Jace isn’t letting this go. Magnus wanted to stay out of this. He did his best to stay out of the previous discussions between Alec and Jace and Izzy and members of the Council, because despite his personal investment in both Clary and Jace’s well beings this isn’t a personal matter, not to the Shadowhunters - it’s a political one. He always knew how this would play out, despite their best efforts… duty before all else, the law is hard but it is the law and all that nonsense.

He wanted to stay out of this, but now he finds himself in the thick of it, staring into the blue and brown eyes of a Shadowhunter pushed to the breaking point between heart and duty.

There’s a long, tense silence in the office before Jace turns away from Alec and Magnus. Magnus can’t tell if he’s hiding his pain from them or something else entirely. Magnus thinks that Jace almost sounds determined when he finally speaks. Resolved. It doesn’t sit well with Magnus but he doesn’t pry, not just now.

“Yeah,” Jace says as he makes his way out of the office. “So am I.”

“That went better than I expected,” Alec admits once Jace is gone.

Magnus gives a distracted nod, but he doesn’t think the matter is over, not by a longshot. Still, it wouldn’t hurt to let Alec think that the worst is past. He has a sinking suspicion that the worst - much worse than this - is yet to come.

“Let’s go home, shall we? I think we could both use that drink now.”

---

There’s no warning from his wards before the knock on the door sounds, so Magnus knows the person is a friend before he checks through the eyehole. Unexpected visits in Idris are few and far between these days, and he’s particularly surprised to find Jace Herondale standing in the hallway when he opens the door.

“Alec isn’t back from his meeting yet, is he?” Jace asks, in a tone that implies he not only knows the answer but fully planned on arriving while his parabatai is out.

“No,” Magnus confirms. “He’ll likely be another hour or so. Come in,” Magnus says, stepping aside for the Shadowhunter to enter. Jace shrugs his coat off and hangs it on the rack by the door.

Instead of prompting Jace Magnus remains silent, reading the blond’s body language and the tension held in every muscle, the strain of every movement, to know that there’s something wrong. Something he doesn’t want to tell Alec if he’s here talking with Magnus first.

“I need you to be honest with me,” Jace says. “Because I already know how Alec and Izzy are going to react, and it isn’t going to be good. And I just--” Jace breaks off there, pacing back and forth. “I need someone impartial to tell me I’m not crazy.”

“I’d hardly say I’m impartial,” Magnus points out.

“But you can be. At least, you can be brutally honest when you need to be, and I need you to be. I just need to talk to you as Magnus, not my parabatai’s husband.”

“Alright,” Magnus agrees, ignoring the urge to make a joke about Jace’s ego not being able to handle Magnus’ honesty. Something tells him this isn’t the time. “What’s on your mind?”

“I want to be with Clary,” Jace says.

The words on their own aren’t surprising. Of course Jace wants to be with Clary. Magnus knows that Jace loves her more than he’s ever loved anyone - save possibly his parabatai - in his entire life. But Clary cannot be part of their world as a mundane, it’d never be recognized or allowed by the Clave. The only way for Jace to be with her now is--

Oh.

The realization dawns on him and sits like a leaden weight in his stomach. His expression must give away what he pieced together because Jace notes the look on his face and continues quickly.

“I’ve thought about it. By the Angel, all I can do is think about it. She never leaves my mind, Magnus. She hasn’t since the day she left and she’s never going to, especially not now that we’ve reconnected. I can’t live without her. And I don’t have to. I just have to…” but Jace trails off there as if saying it might make it too real. So Magnus finishes for him.

“You just have to be de-runed, to leave behind the only family you’ve ever known and the only life you’ve ever known.” Magnus manages to say the words with minimal infliction; no judgment, just facts.

Jace winces. “I did ask for brutal honesty, didn’t I?” he says, though the laugh he gives is forced.

“This isn’t a decision to be made lightly, Jace. I know that you know that, but do you truly understand the gravity of that decision? There’s a reason de-runing is the most severe of punishments for crimes against the Clave,” Magnus points out.

“I know,” Jace says. “But living without Clary for the rest of my life… at least the pain of a de-runing is temporary.”

“But the effects are far from temporary,” Magnus reminds him. At the look on Jace’s face, Magnus adds quickly, “I’m simply presenting all of the angles, I’m not trying to talk you out of it.”

When he imagined what Jace might do in retaliation of the Council’s decision before he pictured more of a fit of rage, a ‘fuck the system’ rebellion of finding a way around their ruling to bring Clary back anyway. This option crossed his mind, of course, but never in a million years would he imagine Jace pursuing it.

Jace is quiet for a moment after that. Magnus takes some small comfort in knowing his words aren’t falling on deaf ears. Jace wouldn’t have come here if he didn’t want to talk this through, after all.

“I know losing the parabatai bond will hurt Alec,” Jace says quietly. “It’s the part I keep coming back to. The rest… I know Alec and Isabelle won’t abandon me if I go through with it, no matter what the laws are. I won’t lose them, not entirely. But the bond…” Jace actually looks close to tears simply speaking of it, and Magnus moves forward to take him gently by the hand and lead him over to the sofa.

“It isn’t a bond broken easily,” Magnus agrees. “You will both suffer greatly for the loss of it.”

Jace hangs his head. “I don’t want to put Alec through that, but… but he will someday anyway, right? One of us will, in the end. It isn’t like it’s inevitable. I’m just… moving up the timeline.”

Magnus can practically hear the number of times Jace must’ve repeated that to himself before now, over and over in his head until he was nearly convinced it’s enough justification. He isn’t wrong, Magnus will give him that. But it’s one thing to lose the bond through an inevitable death, and another entirely to know that you’ve caused that pain and loss intentionally.

The look on Jace’s face as he avoids Magnus’ gaze tells him that Jace knows that, too.

“Have you talked to Clary about this?” Magnus asks.

Jace nods. “She said we could get an apartment together. I can’t tell her everything, obviously, but I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t think we had a real chance, you know I wouldn’t.” Jace shakes his head. “I don’t want to have to choose. This… being a Shadowhunter, this is what I’m good at. It’s what I was raised to be. But Clary… she’s my future, Magnus. I was trained to be a weapon, but I was born to love Clary Fairchild.”

Magnus is struck suddenly by the memory of another Shadowhunter he knew who was willing to give up everything for the love of a mundane girl. ‘I was born to be a warrior, and I was born to be with her. Tell me how to reconcile the two because I cannot.’ The words of one Edmund Herondale rang clear in Magnus’ mind, bringing a slow, sad smile to his face.

“You Herondales certainly have a penchant for sacrificial love,” Magnus observes, not unkindly. Edmund gave up his runes, James his sanity and stability, Will was ready to give up love itself, and now Jace...

“I can give up Shadowhunting. There are plenty of others who can take over for me now, and plenty more to follow after me,” Jace says.

It’s a strange thing, to witness the blind faith the Nephilim place in their Angels from birth begin to crumble and crack - to question outdated laws and revert back to something more basic, more simply human. Life. Love. Happiness. Desire.

“I’m not concerned about the Shadowhunter’s loss of a soldier,” Magnus points out. “And you don’t have to convince me. I know better than to think there will be any talking you out of this once your mind is made up… and it does appear to be entirely made up. You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Jace nods. “I haven’t told anyone yet, but I think Maryse might have an idea. I’ve been asking a lot of questions lately about her de-runing, and what happens afterward.”

Magnus nods slowly. That makes sense. “You won’t be allowed back in Idris again. If the full extent of standard procedure were followed you wouldn’t be able to see any of your family or friends again, but something tells me Alexander won’t let that bit stand.”

He knows that Maryse showed up once or twice to the Institute and that Luke and her family visit her regularly, either at the bookshop or at her home. All of which is highly irregular, but then again, not much about Alexander’s influence of the Clave’s rules and standards hasn’t fought back against their antiquated ways in one way or another.

Jace sounds uncertain when he replies, “I don’t know, there’s a very good chance that Alec won’t speak to me again after this, law or not.”

“If you think there’s any chance of Alexander abandoning you for this decision-”

“And why shouldn’t he?” Jace cuts Magnus off. “After I abandon him first.”

The harshness of Jace’s tone causes Magnus to wince.

“This isn’t just a matter of marrying someone and moving away. This isn’t even just about losing my runes. If it was just my own sacrifice there wouldn’t be a doubt in my mind, but…”

“But it isn’t just your own life this choice affects,” Magnus supplies for him, finally realizing why he came to speak with Magnus first. These are complicated, deep emotions. Alexander and Jace, when confronted with issues as personal as this, could be a volatile force. Magnus is glad Jace had the presence of mind to try and sort through his own first.

“I took an oath. Entreat me not to leave thee,” Jace huffs out with a broken laugh. Magnus knows the oath. He’s familiar with it enough to know that by doing what he’s planning now Jace is breaking every line of it, every promise. “‘The Angel do so to me, and more also,

If aught but death part thee and me.’” Jace’s eyes leave Magnus’ and fix on a point beyond him, growing distant. “How can I choose? Why do I have to choose? It isn’t fair.”

“Life very rarely is,” Magnus says sadly.

“What would you do, if you were me?” Jace asks.

Magnus considers the question, thinks back to all of the loves he had and lost over the centuries, of the love he has now with Alec. He tries to picture what it might be like if he and Catarina were bonded like Jace and Alec, but in the end, he can only shake his head.

“I can only begin to imagine the intricacies of the bond the two of you share,” Magnus admits finally. “I’ve sacrificed everything for love, more times than many would consider wise, and I’ve been burned every time but one.” It isn’t what Jace wants to hear, but it’s the truth. And what follows is also the truth. “But every time was worth the possibility of true love.”

That gives Jace a bit of hope, which is what he needs. It’s what he’s searching for, behind his call for honesty and council.

“If I were you? I’d probably risk what you’re planning now. It’s foolish and reckless, a gamble beyond measure, but isn’t love always?” Magnus smiles softly at that. “And if I were Alexander, and my dearest friend came to me in your situation, I can promise you that any anger or betrayal I felt would be temporary, eventually eclipsed by the joy of knowing they found all the happiness they were looking for in life.”

“You think?” Jace asks, daring to sound optimistic at the mere suggestion that there’s a possibility of Alec being alright with this in the end.

“But I’m not either of you, and this is not my decision to make.”

Magnus feels the gentle ripple in his warding that alerts him to his husband’s arrival downstairs. “Alec’s back,” Magnus says. “I can portal you to the Institute if you’d like to keep this between us for now.” It’s a simple offer, no judgment if Jace wants more time to consider his options, or simply to stall before talking this out with Alec. As difficult as keeping something like this from Alec will be he wouldn’t betray Jace’s trust in coming to him for advice. Magnus watches Jace closely, able to see the flash of panic on Jace’s face and the hesitation as he debates taking the offer of a portal.

“No,” Jace says with a determined shake of his head. When Magnus thinks back to his similar encounter with Edmund nearly a century ago, he distinctly recalls the feeling of witnessing a disaster, of wreckage. But this is different: Jace Herondale isn’t ruining himself, he’s rebuilding.

“I’ll make myself scarce, then,” Magnus says, standing up to make his way toward the door.

“Magnus, hey,” Alec greets, leaning in to give him a kiss in greeting when he opened the door to find Magnus standing next to it, grabbing his coat. Alec catches sight of Jace behind him and his brows furrow. “Jace? Is everything alright?”

“I’m heading out for a bit. Give me a call if you need anything,” Magnus says instead of answering Alec. The question isn’t meant for him, after all.

Magnus looks over at Jace one last time before leaving the two of them alone to speak, still surrounded by the ghosts of his past. He sees so much of Edmund’s determination to follow his heart, no matter the personal cost. He sees Will’s enthusiasm and desperate need for the potential of love. He sees James’s consuming passion.

Magnus sees enough of Jace’s ancestors in him to know without a doubt that Jace will be just fine in the end; and if he isn’t, then Magnus imagines he has enough experience assisting lovestruck Herondales to help him through.

#jace herondale #magnus bane #alec lightwood #clace #shadowhunters #so I just re-read the short story with Edmund and it left me with this thought until I wrote it down #for now it'll stand on its own but I might make a proper series of it because I really like the idea #IDK i just really wanted to write this Magnus POV so here we are #elle writes a few deadbeat lines #long post

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