#then Thomas has to explain to Matthew that ‘no I did not fuck Charles but I may have had relations with his ex’

[remixedroses]

Okay but imagine some time after Thomas came out to Matthew, Matthew notice the weird tension between Thomas and Charles and immediately assumes it’s because they fucked

#then Thomas has to explain to Matthew that ‘no I did not fuck Charles but I may have had relations with his ex’ #thomastair #thomas lightwood #alistair carstairs #matthew fairchild #charles fairchild #the last hours

[letika]

THOMASTAIR KISS THOMASTAIR KISS THOMASTAIR KISS THOMASTAIR KISS THOMASTAIR

IT'S FUCKING GREAT

I mean, first of all, what place could be considered more romantic for a kiss than the Institute Library? With the exception of the Institute Sanctuary, of course.

Second is Thomas's gay panic, I didn't take a screenshot of, but it was cute nonetheless.

Third, I dying when Alastair says that Thomas is important to him. I mean, usually their relationship is told from Thomas's face. We see only his anxiety and his gay panic. We understand Alastair's feelings from his actions. That's why it's so awesome to hear him say, "I learned-with Charles-things cannot be all stolen moments. But neither can we hurt others by blindly pursuing what we want-". He never explicitly said he loved Thomas (at least at the time of chapter 14), but he did say it in other words. And that's awesome.

Fourth. WHO WAS IT THAT SAID THEY WANTED THEM TO SPEAK PERSIAN DURING THEIR ROMANTIC MOMENTS??? CONGRATULATIONS ON MAKING IT COME TRUE. At least only Alastair spoke. And the translator couldn't give me anything intelligible about those phrases. However, I have a feeling he was quoting some kind of poem. If there is someone here who knows Persian, it would be great if you could explain what's what.

Fifth. They have practically settled the moment with Thomas's friends. That is, Thomas has by this point confessed to the most threatening man, Matthew, which means the others will be able to accept Alastair, too. Alastair can grasp the fact that Thomas, first of all, really wants to be together with him, and secondly, they can make it work. He will not hurt others by blindly pursuing what he wants.

I like that this moment will not be followed by another breakup and bitterness. This moment will be followed by awareness and a new, more open conversation

#cassandra clare #the last hours #tlh #chain of thorns #chain of thorns spoilers #cot #cot spoilers #alastair carstairs #thomas lightwood #thomas x alastair #thomastair

[brightwoods]

I just have to say that I love your writing - your updates were great even when I was dying of secondhand embarrassment for Alastair at the party :( <3

When Alastair said he didn’t drink that much was he lying? I wonder if a combination of not drinking (ever) and barely eating meant he got drunk really easily/quickly? Either way it’s a sad theme to see Alastair constantly pushing his boundaries for the people he cares about, including drinking with Ariadne/Kamala because he doesn’t want to explain to her why he won’t. (Though it would be interesting to know everyone else’s reaction to Alastair drinking who doesn’t know why it’s significant?)

Anyway - I hope you’re sleeping and eating well and thank you for your wonderful (as always) chapters!! I’m excited to hear what happens next 💕💕

Thank you!

I was dying of secondhand embarrassment while I was writing the scene too 😂

I'm going to put a read more before I get into Alastair's drinking, but there is definitely an answer

By the end of the night he definitely was lying about not having drank that much, but he also didn't start off intending to drink much and his awareness of how drunk something would make him or how drunk he was at any given moment was pretty much nonexistent

The fact that he had barely been eating all day definitely did not help his tolerance. But he also has a very warped idea of how much a person can drink and just get tipsy because he's never drank before and he's very aware of how much Elias can drink before it becomes an issue, but Elias has developed his tolerance well above the average person's, especially someone who just picked at his dinner and has no idea of his own limits...

So he ended up full blown drunk unintentionally before he left Ariadne's house and then drunk Alastair's judgment was impaired when he was like idk this seems fine though, Thomas is kind of annoying coming over to complain about me showing up though so maybe I'll drink a little more and it should be fine... And then he was having fun with Ariadne and having a much better time and he was like oh, this is fun, why did I think this was a bad idea? And he also very much thought that he was less affected by the alcohol than he really was... The self awareness is only going to come when he wakes up the next day

The starting drinking part wasn't really to try to fit in with Ariadne instead of having to tell her. He started off just not drinking without mentioning that he doesn't drink at all, but then he was already annoyed enough from all of the stuff going on with Thomas and him refusing to talk to him but also bugging him with texts and annoyed enough with Charles for sending the screenshot and then having the nerve to bother him like he would just go running back to him after he messed things up with Thomas for him and then when Thomas just would not stop messaging him as if he had any right to try to ban him from the party or throw a fit if he did and Alastair was pissed off and just kind of like fuck it, drinking one time isn't going to be the end of the world, and it's not like I'm going to drink enough to not be able to look after myself (and he's going to be very unhappy that that turned out to not be so true and he had Cordelia having to be his keeper for the night)

And the people who don't know why the drinking would be significant are just kind of like wow that's embarrassing, clearly, someone is not taking his break up well (or in Matthew's case that's embarrassing, clearly, someone can't hold his alcohol without thinking that was about the breakup when he doesn't think the relationship was real) but it's more a haha it's funny how drunk he got than anything else

#Ask #Anonymous #10tihay fic #My Posts

[alastaircarstairsdefenselawyer]

i am not a hero pt 2: all will be well

Part 1 | Fanfiction Masterlist | AO3

A/N: Sorry this took so long! Warnings: descriptions of racism, mentions of alcoholism

"Thank the angel you're all here," Cordelia exhaled as she arrived in the room about the Devil's Tavern. "Have you heard? Alastair was-" She stopped herself as she surveyed the room, registering the looks the Merry Thieves were giving her. "Oh, no. No, no, no." She turned to James. "Tell me you didn't have anything to do with this." 

"Daisy-" 

"Tell me!" 

"I can't lie to you." 

She stumbled backwards, her heart shattered. James reached for her, but she protested. "No! Don't touch me! You can’t lie to me? All you have done is lie, apparently. You didn't... You didn't even tell me... I thought we were doing this together... I was such a fool.”

"Cordelia, you know we had to keep it from you," Matthew explained. "You're rather... overprotective." 

She laughed. "Overprotective? I care for him, Matthew, because he's my brother. I know him as well as I know myself, though I understand if that's confusing for you, seeing as you've never had a brother worth caring for." 

"Cordelia," James said sternly, a warning. "We understand that you're upset-" 

"Upset? You have betrayed me! You could have told me the truth, and I would have helped you. I would have shown you alibi, I would proven to you with evidence that it was not him-" 

"If there is evidence, it will be presented before the courts, and all will be well." 

"You don't get it! You don't. You- I thought all this time that it was me. That I didn't understand the world or society or friendship or... marriage because I was raised isolated from the Clave by an inattentive, narcissistic drunkard." She enunciated each other her final words with all of the vitriol she'd been suppressing since her father arrived in London. "But I was wrong. It was you. You all... You live in a fantasy world, one that your parents created for you. And that's fine. that's good for you, I'm glad that the people in your life were capable and willing to do that for you. But the world does not work the same for all of us." 

"Really, Cordelia? You wish to speak of the world and how it works for -- and against -- each of us?" Matthew challenged. 

She resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “Whatever do you mean, Matthew?” 

“You, what? Don’t believe we know what it’s like to be prejudiced against? Would you have said the same while Alastair himself was ridiculing James for his parentage or me for my… presumed sexual proclivities?” 

Cordelia gawked. "That was over four years ago, Matthew! He said foolish things and he regrets them, yet you continue to live in the past. Not only do you hold mistakes you all made as children over his head, but you dare compare your experience to his? You can go anywhere, do anything, without anyone knowing what you do with your nights. Perhaps you wear that carnation, but you can take it off, Matthew. So, James’ eyes are golden. Tell me, James, when you were eight years old, were you kicked out of the general store because the townspeople believed you to be stealing for no reason other than your golden eyes?” 

James was silent. 

“So, please, tell me again how you understand what it’s like to walk in my brother’s shoes.” She turned back to Matthew. “You were given everything, Matthew. You have all the money you could ever dream of. Your parents love you unconditionally. You choose to live your life openly. Perhaps you should not need to choose, but you do, and it is a privilege to be able to make such a choice so freely, knowing that you will continue to be safe and cared for. Not everyone has such luxuries. My brother no longer even has a choice; you have taken it from him." 

Silence had fallen over the room. The boys had always understood that they were very lucky in life, just as they had understood, on some level, the ways that their parents had been unlucky. However, it was easy to live a lucky life and forget to consider how those around oneself may not afford the same privileges. James looked to her finally. "What... What do you mean by that? What choice?”

She turned to him with a blank expression, then sighed. "I suppose the whole Clave will know soon, anyways. As you know, with the memory magic being used, the Clave needs alibis. Alastair has only got one, and I can’t imagine it will end well for him." She turned to Matthew and sighed, "You and your brother have been given everything. I have no doubt in my mind that Charles will not be held at all responsible for the realities of their affair. He will continue with his life unscathed, to marry whomever he chooses, to obtain any position he chooses, to live whatever life he chooses, just as James would have even if he had not married me. Because that is how the world works. Alastair will be seen as the one who persuaded him into such proclivities.” She paused before muttering under her breath, “Not to mention that I haven't the slightest idea of what will happen when my father learns the truth.” She took a breath and continued, “So, to make a long story short, James, no, I do not believe all will be well.” 

“Cordelia,” he started, “you must believe that we had no intention of exposing anyone’s personal affairs. It was not personal at all; we are only trying to put an end to this mess.” 

“Well, congratulations, James. An innocent man has been arrested, your killer still walks free, and my family is in ruins. I believe you have accomplished quite a lot.” Her eyes scanned the room. Matthew looked to be in a state of shock, Christopher in confusion, but her eyes settled on Thomas, his head hung low, his face turned away. “I… I may not have expected this, but I can believe it well enough. But, you, Thomas? How could you?” 

He looked up at her, tears on his flushed cheeks. “Cordelia, I-” 

“Tell me, was any of it real? Did you ever truly intend to be my brother’s friend, or was it all just ploy for your little detective game?”

He shook his head. “Sort of, at first, but-” 

“I trusted you!” She yelled before restraining her anger. “He trusted you. After everything, after Charles and- I thought that finally, finally my brother had someone in his life who was kind and gentle and caring. Someone honest and trustworthy, but it was all a lie. You used him, too.” 

“Cordelia, I- I’m so sorry.” 

“You are not who I thought you were." Her words echoing ones that Thomas had once spoken. Unlike Thomas,’ however, her realization held no trace of anger or upset. No, her words were spoken only in true fear.

Seemingly finished with the boys’ stunned silence, she took a breath. “If you will excuse me, I must take my leave. James, my mother and I shall be staying at the Institute for the time being, so it would be in your best interest to avoid it as much as possible. There’s not much of a point in continuing this sham of a marriage, seeing as I haven’t got a reputation to save, so I will write to the Consul first thing tomorrow morning requesting a divorce. Then, you shall have what you always dreamed: you will be rid of my family and I forever.” 

“Wait-” James cried, his voice breaking. 

“You are dead to me, James Herondale.” 

Without waiting for a reply, she darted out of the room. 

The four boys were left, staring at one another. Thomas unsuccessfully attempted to stifle his tears while James looked to be on the verge of a complete breakdown, his torso trembling. 

“What, are you two bloody heartbroken now?” Matthew mused. 

Thomas slammed his fist on the table loud enough to alert the whole establishment. “Fuck, Matthew! Shut up!” 

“Thomas, you found the bloodied dagger and Ms. Highsmith’s necklace in his bedroom yourself. We saw him walking around downtown the nights of the Gladstone and Beauvale murders. Whatever Cordelia claims, I truly don’t think we’re wrong about this.” 

“And what if we are?” Thomas challenged. 

“It could have been planted,” Christopher offered. “And there could be many reasons that he was out those nights. After all, we were, too.” 

“Which reasons, Christopher? Have you ever seen him in a bar? He doesn’t even drink. He’s hardly more than a lowly shut-in.” 

“His father does,” James said quietly. 

Matthew glared. “What?” 

“His father drinks. I don’t… I don’t know a lot about it all, but it would follow that if Elias were out drinking again and did not come home, Alastair would be the one to go out looking for him.”

Matthew groaned. “Fine, if we are truly pursuing this, then what? We’ve got maybe half a day if we’re lucky before Alastair is to go before the Mortal Sword.” 

“Then we have half a day to find the true culprit,” Thomas announced, regaining his resolve. 

“If Alastair is our only lead at the moment, we must pursue it,” Kit offered. “Who could have planted it on him? What motive would they have to frame him? Who would have had access to his bedroom?” 

“Well, I can answer one of your questions,” Matthew said nonchalantly. “Who wouldn’t want to frame Alastair Carstairs for murder?” 

“Matthew, if you’re not going to be helpful, please be quiet,” Thomas said in his usual gentle but stern manner, though the complete opposite of the last time he’d asked his friend to be quiet. “Sona is nearly always home; it would be very difficult for someone to enter the house uninvited and not be seen. As Matthew put it, Alastair is a bit of a shut-in, but he’s clearly been going out more, especially at night, since his father has returned. Sona’s been having trouble sleeping as of late, though, so even getting access to his bedroom at night would be difficult. They’ve only one servant, Risa, so there’s truly not many folks moving about the house regularly.” 

“Since when are you on a first-name basis with Mrs. Carstairs?” Christopher commented in confusion, and Thomas blushed. 

“What do you recommend, then?” Matthew asked. 

“Kit is correct, it’s our only lead. We must return to Cornwall Gardens. If we’re lucky, they may have left something behind, or perhaps there’s some sort of record of visitors to the house.” 

James looked uneasy. “This seems wrong. Maybe we can still go after Cordelia-” 

“There’s no time, James,” Thomas admitted. “She’s too angry with us. I’m no happier about it than you are, but if there is any way that we could possibly fix this, we must do it.” 

He nodded. “Let’s go, then.” 

“Won’t there be people at the house?” Christopher asked. “The sun has not even set yet.” 

Thomas sighed. “Cordelia is taking Sona to the Institute, and I’d imagine Risa is accompanying them, at least for the initial journey until she is settled. Elias is just a risk we’ll have to take.” 

As they ventured out, however, they were not even out the doors of the tavern before Thomas stopped in his tracks. If looks could kill, Matthew would have murdered Thomas several times over by now. “Elias is here,” he whispered. 

“What?” James narrowed his eyes. 

“One of us should stay here and keep an eye on him, make sure he doesn’t return to Cornwall Gardens until it’s been cleared. Besides, I don’t want him interfering with Cordelia’s plans, either.” 

“Are you volunteering, then?” Matthew asked. 

Thomas thought for a moment. “I suppose so. I’ve done my searching already; it’s better to have some fresh eyes. You and James know the layout of the house well enough.” 

“Very well,” Christopher declared. “Thomas, I shall send you a magical letter when we are finished at the Carstairs residence.” 

Thomas narrowed his eyes with worry. “Please don’t. I’m rather weary of fire.” 

“Nonsense. The fire’s not important; it’s a magical letter.” 

“It’s a magical letter that you send by lighting it on fire! It should be called a fire letter!” 

“Fire letter,” Christopher hummed. “No, that’s not quite right. No, fire message! I shall send you a fire message, Thomas!” 

“Alright,” Thomas whined. “You all should go, we haven’t got much time.” 

“Thomas, are you sure you want to stay here?” James asked. 

“I’ll be fine. He’s a drunk; I’d be surprised if he even stood up before you lot were finished. I just want to make sure.” 

James gave him a short nod, and they took their leave. Thomas settled down at a corner table, pulling out a notebook from his pocket and pretending to be fixated on it while he kept his eye on Elias at the bar. 

Just his luck, and much to his surprise, Elias stood to leave not long after the rest of the Merry Thieves had departed. Thomas waited for a moment after he left, and then went out after him. He stepped out onto the street, looking for a sign of where Elias had gone, but he quickly saw only darkness as a cloth was wrapped around his eyes and nose and he was subdued, quickly losing consciousness. 

A/N: I also just wanted to clarify a couple of things, I believe that the Clave will come to certain conclusions and Charles will not refute them, not that he would create the lies himself. These conclusions make sense to me, not only because Charles is a white boy who is seen as an “insider” (which they would try to rationalize), but because orientalist beliefs have hypersexualized the Middle East for centuries, associating MENA with “deviant” male homosexuality. This is believed to be one of the (many) reasons queerness is rejected so thoroughly in the MENA today, and I think it’s important to consider how ideas like orientalism impacted lives in historical fiction, although the concept had not been coined or studied yet.

taglist (lmk to be added!): @littlx-songbxrd

#cw alcoholism #cw racism #cordelia carstairs #alastair carstairs #thomas lightwood #james herondale #fanfiction #fanfic #anti charles fairchild #anti elias carstairs #carstairs sibling supremacy