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amchara · 2 years

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Hello! Okay- this one popped into my head as I was swimming laps this afternoon, after having finished listening to yours and Bry's most recent episode of KRP. It's inspired both by your headcanons and your gripes about how poorly Emma is sometimes served by the narrative. ;)

It's a 5 + 1 fic called 'Five times Emma Carstairs was scared and one time she wasn't'

As the title indicates, it's an Emma-centric fic. Still playing around with the five scenarios but roughly -

a childhood scene where Emma is in trouble (riptide at the beach, lost in the canyons, etc?) and she is rescued by her mom and dad because dammit, we deserve to see more (fanon) interpretations of Emma's family dynamics before she came to live with the Blackthorns

Emma having a nightmare about her parents' death very shortly after hers and Julian's parabatai ceremony and despite the fact that their bedrooms are on opposite sides of the Institute, Julian can feel her terror and comes to comfort her (this is a Blackstairs positive fic, I should mention here- no hate for such a superior ship)

Emma and Julian coming back to L.A. and settling in at the Institute but Emma still feeling dissatisfied and feeling scared that she is losing part of who she is- now that that danger post-TDA is gone, who is she as a Carstairs? She visits her family home in L.A., looks at old photographs, gets in touch with Jem to learn more about her family. This section ends up with Julian and Emma moving out of the Institute and into Emma's childhood home.

Set again shortly after the end of SOBH, Clary is visiting L.A. and she notices that Emma energy isn't exactly where it should be- the 'swinging Cortana at weeds because what else am I supposed to do?' So... she invites Emma to come out to visit NY. While there, Clary, Emma and Simon go up to Luke's farm, aka the new Shadowhunter Academy. Long story short - Emma ends up getting invited to guest-lecture at the Academy, and to showcase her prowess and develop parts of the new curriculum (which definitely includes not only swordfighting but how to find the best deals at vintage clothing shops). It's to show that Emma has something going on in her own life outside the Blackthorn family

Okay- timeskip like 7-8 years where Emma is in her mid-20s and has given birth to twins (because twins run in families). They're not identical twins, btw- but two boy fraternal ones, one who looks just like all the Blackthorns, with brown hair and blue-green eyes, and one who has brown eyes and blond hair, like Emma. Don't know their names yet. Anyway, this section is about how Emma is feeling scared about being both a new mum, and also- can she still be a warrior despite now having children. Obviously the answer is yes here- and in some way, she learns this.

And the bonus times she doesn't feel scared is clearly the wedding ceremony, where she and Julian get married sometime in their mid-20s on a beach in L.A.

Haha.. this is almost as long as the story in itself- hope you enjoyed and thank you for the distraction!

(Writing Ask Game)

#fanfiction writing #writing ask game #mutuals!#emma carstairs #julian blackthorn #blackstairs

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declanwidow · 10 months

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idc how deep in your queue it is. for the tsc ask game 1 2 4 6 7 26!!!!!

girl i just had to SEARCH.

fave series? tda - my fave location, my fave set up (the blackthorns and emma in cohf u will always be famous), my fave couple, my fave main male and female characters, my fave family, my fave romantic conflict. not my fave execution in the end, but i cannot win them all. in a world where emma broke the parabati bonds i would never ever have stopped talking ab this series for a single second

least fave series? tlh - i really enjoyed books 1 and 2, but this series managed to have very low interpersonal stakes by virtue of most of the characters being friends from the get go (this is why alastair and grace and charles deserve knighthoods for their work), the romantic stakes in the first book were excellent - but even by the end of coi i was wondering how she was going to drag thomastair out further - but in the end i think it was a shame that james' feelings for grace weren't real and that she had never had any for him - it would have added some much needed grit to their dynamic in cot. also cot.

4. fave short story collection? i genuinely don't know. i like but don't love them all also just checked goodreads and apparently i only rated ghosts of the shadow market 😭 i think i'm going with tftsa tho because i have the strongest memories of those stories - also jace telling simon that he and alec have some bad blood between them and simon who has lost his memories BELIEVING HIM.... u will always be famous

6. fave main girl? was this even a question? EMMA!!!!!!!!!!!! *plays when emma falls in love*

7. top 3 overall?

julian blackthorn - he is my everything <3 no one is touching him ever i fear the most beloved covered in blood boy to ever be covered in blood

jem carstairs - before julian he was my baby forever and he still is. when he's dying like a victorian man should and still ripping tessa's dress off so they can fuck in a carriage that was iconic of him.

emma carstairs - my loveeeeeeeeee my coffee hating queen my sunshine moonbeam girlie who is so so so obsessed w revenge and killing and trying to become a better shadwhunter than a guy w literal angel blood in him and who can jump off buildings bc his adopted (using that term loosely) daddy experimented on him in the womb and she scares me

26. what useless item am i stealing from my neighbourhood shadowhunter? church.

#vic #tsc #ask games #also it physically hurt making that top 3 list i have so many faves in the sea of the thousands of shadowhunter characters #CECILY U ARE ON THERE IN SPIRIT AND ALEC AND MAGNUS

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julescarstairs · 2 years

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Also Jem thanking Emma for telling him about her current problem at hand

This man is so sweet I can’t—

#yes #YES #JEM AND EMMA DYNAMIC WE ALWAYS WANTED #secrets of blackthorn hall #the dark artifices #julian blackthorn #the shadowhunter chronicles #emma carstairs #blackstairs #mark blackthorn #cristina rosales #ty blackthorn #tavvy blackthorn #thedarkartifices

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hopestrope · 3 years

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Things we can see in SoBH

Emma and Julian reunion with Kit, Jem, Tessa and Mina (since Blackthorn Hall and Cirenworth are close by?)

A walking/talking/toddling Mina Carstairs.

Emma and Julian interactions with Mina.

Big brother Kit and little sister Mina dynamic.

Emma and Kit training together and Emma being surprised at how good Kit has become since he started training with Jem.

Blackthorns talking about Livvy.

Ghost Livvy getting to see Emma and Julian.

Kit/Ty talking about each other and maybe seeing each other? (Imagine Kit asking Julian how Ty is doing and trying to seem completely neutral and ordinary about it but failing)

Jem and Tessa telling Julian and Emma about their past, maybe about Will since they had fun memories together at Chiswick house.

Teenage Dru and Julian not wanting his little sister to grow up...

Kit and Dru reunion and Kit teaching her some more naughty activities.

Lots and lots of Blackstairs.

#secrets of blackthorn hall #cassandra clare #emma carstairs #julian blackthorn #jem carstairs #tessa gray #mina carstairs #kit herondale #ty blackthorn #livvy blackthorn #the wicked powers

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nextonmy-tbr · 3 years

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Book Review: The Dark Artifices

Author: Cassandra Clare

Genre: YA Fantasy

A story set 5 years after the events of The Mortal Instruments. Emma and the Blackthorns are no longer orphans of the war. They are stronger, wiser and all Emma wants now is to find the truth behind her parents death and get her revenge. But as things unfold there may be reasons and dangers beyond her imagination. So will she find the truth? Read the book to find out …

My thoughts: -

Honestly I think this one of the best shadowhunter book series I have read. It is definitely one of my favourites and it deserves more love and appreciation. I found the story in this series much more interesting than the other shadowhunter novels. I guess I find ‘I put my family first’ dramas much more appealing. Lets talk about this book in detail.

Plot: -

“When a decision like that is made by a government, it emboldens those who are already prejudiced to speak their deepest thoughts of hate.”

The plot is damn good. There is just so much going on, I really loved that. You will go into this book expecting to find a storyline revolving around Emma and her parents (which it does) and end up with reading about a shadowhunter style Civil War. It was interesting to see how the story ends up like that. Also, Cassie has written this book a bit differently, in her previous book series’ you will see her chapters being divided among 2-3 characters POV and some additional POVs to give us an insight into other storylines. But here in this series there were multiple storylines with multiple POV, so you keep on getting content on each plot. I guess this is one of the reasons why many don’t prefer TDA. I prefer this way as you can know what’s going on with each character in the story and they don’t feel like just a plot device.

This book series has much more involvements of the faeries which makes the story more complicated and dramatic, coz obviously fae are the same. In this book you will also see how a corrupt government and prejudice can nearly destroy a community.

Characters: -

“I came of age in Dark War. I was baptized in blood and fire.”

So if it is possible to fall in love with a character that Julian Blackthorn is that character for me. He is one good character. You can also term him as a bit morally grey and complex character. Julian has been a father to all of his siblings for all these five years and hence he is very much protective of them. He can betray and manipulate any person if that meant keeping his family together. Even the dialogues given to him are so dramatic, it just makes me love him even more. I also like his love angle with Emma, it was pretty good to me. The only point where I was disappointed is the arc that was given to him at the start of the third book (if you have read these books you know what I mean and if you haven’t you will soon) and that quickly becomes boring. Other than that he was perfect.

“Nobody calls me ‘blondie’ and keeps their kneecaps.”

Emma Carstairs is our badass and sarcastic blonde (kinda like female Jace Herondale, the only exception is that I like Emma though) bent on revenge for her parents. She is a kind yet sad soul. She is a very likable character.

“I am saying the choices that we make in captivity are not always the choices we make in freedom. And thus we question them. We cannot help it.”

I am giving Kieran Kingson a special mention coz I think my guy deserves more appreciation. Seriously, he is so underrated. Both the characters in the book and people in the fandom don’t love him as much as they should. I really like the arc that was given to him. He came off as an arrogant faerie prince in the first book and quickly became an adorable faerie by the end of the third book. At least Cassie gave him the ending that he deserves.

This book really has awesome characters. Cristina definitely is overhated and for no reason whatsoever. Mark is adorable. Kit and Ty are the best duo out there, I really loved their dynamic (cannot wait for The Wicked Powers!!). Diana and Gwyn were so cool, I liked how their story proceeded, I think they should have been given more page time. It was of course lovely to read the TMI characters make their cameo in this series (they have grown soo much).

So, if you like revenge drama, family drama, corrupt government, civil war, forbidden romance, a love triangle that for once doesn’t end up in choosing between two guys, detective duo, transgender badass female ruining the bitches and group of people having tendency to put themselves in situation worse than Jace and Clary (Magnus’ words not mine), then you have to read this series. Let me know your thoughts on this book.

#book review #booklr #tda #the dark artifices #tsc #julian blackthorn #emma carstairs #cristina rosales #kieran kingson #mark blackthorn #kit herondale #ty blackthorn #livvy blackthorn #dru blackthorn #helen blackthorn #aline penhallow #diana wrayburn #gwyn ap nudd #tmi gang

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hexblooded · 7 years

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“I am so ready to hunt down those tiny adorable creatures and give them what for,” said Emma. “SO READY.”

“Emma ...”

“I may even tie bows on their heads.”

“We have to interrogate them.”

“Can I get a selfie with one of them first?”

“Eat your toast, Emma.”

#tda #blackstairs #jemma #emma carstairs #julian blackthorn #the dark artifices #lady midnight #lord of shadows #queen of air and darkness #contrary to popular belief i actually like their dynamics #when they're not being angsty and boring #i rly hate their storyline

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aspeckledowl · 4 years

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Thoughts Kieran/Mark: Lady Midnight - Cassandra Clare

*SPOILERS!!!

My Thoughts: Kieran and Mark Had to Break Up

My journey with Lady Midnight is a rocky one. I first read the novel at a time when I wasn’t willing to appreciate it’s diverse relationship dynamics. Most notably, the dying romance between Kieran and Mark as I had grown attached to their passion and boundless need of each other. Originally, it appealed to me that their bond formed amidst the hardships of Faerie; a love formed within fire. I was unwilling for their relationship to evolve outside of that. In a recent re-read, I have re-evaluated my initial judgement.

Mark Blackthorn evolved from the originally introduced Faerie warrior at the start of the novel and as he grew, assimilating back to human life, Kieran’s desperation over protecting Mark’s bond grew; desperation grown from selfishness, fear, and need, not commitment.

Kieran’s desperation led him to disregard’s Mark’s voice in their relationship through attempting to steal Mark’s choice between The Hunt or his family upon the murder investigation’s conclusion from him. Kieran clearly understood the Blackthorns were instrumental to Mark’s survival in Faerie as Mark often “gave the stars” his “siblings names,” a coping mechanism he had shared with Kieran in the past. Despite this knowledge, Kieran’s desperation and thoughts of survival led him to violate Mark’s trust. Disregarding Mark’s desires and his freedom of choice, Kieran attempted to force Mark’s hand in returning to Faerie. After Mark “shared the secrets of Faerie” with Christina, Kieran told Gywn, the leader of The Hunt, of Mark’s betrayal under the impression that Gywn would call off the Blackthorn deal and Mark would “return” to him.

While the punishment turned to be of violent nature, a punishment both Julian and Emma Carstairs would take in place of Mark, the greater evil of Kieran’s betrayal is his attempt to rob Mark’s choice. He disregarded Mark’s family attachments and his newfound desire to explore the human half of his ancestry. The relationship between the two therefore experienced a large breach of not only trust, but respect. Mark no longer a partner to Kieran, but a possession; a symbol of comfort as Kieran’s arrow bolt was to Mark over an equal. For a long time, oppsession for their coupling blinded these flaws in their relationship; love binds people, this is true, but when such binds are deprived of the choice to be broken, that is no longer a romance to root for.

Their relationship, though fantastical in nature, reflects one of the most realistic relationships in the Shadowhunter universe. Mark, away from The Hunt, with his family, and in a foreign land, experienced personal growth; he evolved. His values changed from when he had rode with Gywn. He formed bonds with his family members that caused Mark to adapt his personality from the reckless and wild nature of a rider to one of a sibling. Julian Blackthrown was most influential in Mark’s growth, aside from Cristina. Watching Julian take care of his younger siblings, sacrifice his own happiness to “mess around,” as Mark had in the kitchen, taking on the role of “telling them [the younger Blackthorn sibiling] no,” motivated Mark to understand Shadowhunter life more and make an effort to help Julian in ways which only personal growth could effectively do.

Mark learned, in the span of three days, the value of being in a relationship in which the other party cared for him without motive of personal gain. Julian and the Blackthorns simply loved Mark because he was their brother, whether he was the version of himself that they expected would return from the Hunt or not. On the other hand, Mark, through Cristina, learned how to care for others without the desperation of survival. This is evident through Mark witnessing Cristina kiss Diego in the final chapters, after a clear attraction to her has been established, and yet willing to close the door and walk away from her. When Emma asks to start dating Mark under a pretense, Mark allows it, clearly able to continue life even though his attraction to Cristina seems unrequited. Therefore, he has learned how to care and be cared for in more healthy ways than how he loved and was loved by Kieran.

Let me know you’re thoughts on them. I’m only on Lady Midnight, so who knows, everything can change again XD

#cassandraclare #thedarkartifices #ladymidnight #emmacarstairs #Herondale #jem carstairs #tessa grey #mark blackthorn #KieranxMark #julian blackthorn #shadowhunters #emma carstairs

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bookmarksanddogears · 4 years

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Book Review: Lady Midnight, by Cassandra Clare

My rating: 4 / 5 stars

Recommended for: Fantasy fans; Shadowhunter fans, particularly those that prefer the Mortal Instruments series over the Infernal Devices series.

Quick review: So far, I like it much better than the start of the Mortal Instruments series. I love the characters and the plot; I’m annoyed by another frustratingly forbidden romance.

Full review: When I read The Mortal Instruments series, I wasn't a huge fan of Clary, the female lead, because she seemed a little too pathetic and needy and yet was still somehow unfairly destined for greatness in the Shadowhunter community. However, this is absolutely not the case for Emma Carstairs, the female leading character of Lady Midnight and The Dark Artifices series. Emma is strong, independent, driven, hard-working, and fiercely loyal, and I love her!

It's been five years since the events of City of Heavenly Fire in the Mortal Instruments series. Emma has grown into an extremely talented Shadowhunter and a force to be reckoned with, but she is still searching for answers regarding her parents' mysterious murder. The Clave claims the Carstairs were murdered by Sebastian Morgenstern during the Dark War, but Emma doesn't believe it. She trains as hard as she can and tracks down any lead she can find in the hopes that she will find a way to avenge their deaths. When a string of murders of Downworlders occurs in LA, Emma can't help but notice the similarities between these deaths and those of her parents. The LA Institute strikes a secret deal with the faeries of the Wild Hunt to help solve these murders, and Emma is hoping she'll find answers. But something much darker than Emma could have expected is lurking ... I love the plot for the start of this series and I'm intrigued to see what the next book will hold. The very end of Lady Midnight left a nail-biting opening for the continuation of the series. I love all the characters, too: Emma and Julian are great as parabatai, I enjoy Emma and Cristina's friendship, and the whole Blackthorn family dynamic is adorable. But dammit...there's yet ANOTHER heart-crushing, absolutely-forbidden, no-way-they-could-possibly-be-together, Cassandra Clare romance that you KNOW will somehow magically and happily resolve itself by the end of the series, and I am already OVER it. ...okay just kidding, I'm totally waiting to see how the romance turns out. I'm still giving it four stars, though, out of spite and principle.

If you enjoyed this review, please like, reblog, and follow me for more reviews!

#books #book review #lady midnight #the dark artifices #cassandra clare #book blog #book blogger #booklr #bookworm #booknerd #audiobooks #booklover #bookish #bookishlife

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academicpursuit · 4 years

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review: lady midnight by cassandra clare

3 Stars.

Let’s be real; The Dark Artifices series is so hyped. And, I admit, I’m a little late to the party. But what can I say.

The Dark Artifices follows the shadowhunters of L.A. five years after what happened in the City of Heavenly Fire. Emma Carstairs and her parabatai Julian Blackthorn as well the rest of the Blackthorn fam are dealing with mysterious murders in the magical world. Julian’s brother, Mark, who was taken by faeries five years ago returns to his family, to a Shadowhunter world that is both familiar yet so unfamiliar.

The Plot and (that Snail) Pacing

Ok, prepares to dodge some tomatoes. I don’t love this book. But, hang tight, there are some aspects that I did like. The reason that it took me this long to pick up the book was that wasn’t a big fan of Emma and Julian in the City of Heavenly Fire, so you can imagine my enthusiasm when I heard that they were starring in their own series.

The first third of the book was quite a lot of slice of life moments. While I love the Blackthorn family dynamics, I felt like it dragged too much. I love me a long book, but this book could have been more succinct. I’m talking ‘City of Bones’ length.

As the murder mystery that we have going on, the intrigue and investigation was quite fun. And as per usual, the Clave is bureaucratic(!) and slow(!), so the kiddos have to take matters into their own hands. The ending of the book was quite action packed and fast paced. I flew through it.

How about that writing y’all

This book just wants to make me hop on a road trip and visit LA. The descriptions of the sea are so lyrical. Some of the places the characters visit are real or inspired by real places. The writing style is whimsical, and I have to say, it’s my favorite of all the shadow hunters world.

“I feel like I’m wandering through fog and I can’t see anything clearly.” It felt like there was something stuck in her throat, something hard and painful. Part of her wanted nothing more than to run out into the rain, feel it spill down over her. Walk or run down to the beach, where the sea and the sky would be melding into one, and let her screams be drowned out by thunder. “We are alike, you and I,” he said. “The storm calls you as it calls me, doesn’t it? I saw in your eyes earlier—you wanted to be out in it. To run on the beach, perhaps, as the lightning comes down.”

The romantic subplot

I am a sucker for that classic star-crossed lovers™ trope, but the JulianxEmma timeline is just a big ball of cliches (i.e., i am falling in love; what is wrong me?, cue dramatic music and about to kiss but InTeRruPtEd because of plot)

Please spare me.

The Characters

There is a lot of diversity in this book which I appreciate. The relationships are well thought out. Emma and Cristina’s friendship definitely passes the Bechdel Test. Most characters have strong character arcs with realistic struggles. Mark has to deal with the implications of returning to a world that he no longer feels at home in and reconnecting with his brothers and sisters who are vastly different than what he remembers. Jules has to reconceal with the fact that he had to grow up fast and act as a father figure in the family even though he was a kid himself. Every single adult who he thought he could depend on has let him down. The relationships are realistic and the characters are given their time to shine. (Heck, they better, given that this book is almost 700 pages).

Overall Impressions

It was a decent introduction to the shadowhunters of LA. Was it my favorite? No, but there are some strong elements in the story, like the diversity and the family dynamics. Will I read Lord of Shadows? Most likely.

#bookreview #studycharms #mine

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blackthorn-brekker · 5 years

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Walls of Glass - Part Numero Uno

“Emma Carstairs one-shot. Emma Carstairs, following the destruction of the Cohort and during the dissolving of the Cold Peace, Emma Carstairs takes a break from the madness to partake in her travel year. She decides to visit Mexico City and her good friends Cristina Mendoza Rosales and Mark Blackthorn, now engaged to be married. Things happen (I’m not sure what yet so I’ll have to edit this later and if I don’t then you’re welcome to this lovely little bit of text; you’re welcome).

The Mexico City Institute was not hard for Emma to see, and it certainly wasn’t easy to miss, it was just that it wasn’t, upon her arrival, the first thing she was concentrating on.

No. Instead, her immediate focus was drawn to Cristina Mendoza Rosales, who had not so long ago taken her own travel year at the Los Angeles Institute, the place Emma had seen as a second home for so long, and know her first and only real home with the Blackthorn family. Cristina, in the short time, had firmly cemented herself as a staple of the Blackthorns’ and Emma’s life, and found her true loves: Mark Blackthorn, second oldest of the Blackthorn siblings, and Kieran Kingson, now King of the Unseelie Court.

Emma herself didn’t entirely understand how Mark, Kieran and Cristina’s love triangle dynamic worked, but, hey, if her friend was happy and they treated her right, she was all for it. She also knew that Kieran, as Unseelie King, wasn’t technically allowed to have human consorts, let alone Shadowhunter ones (well, half-Shadowhunter ones, in Mark’s case), so she wondered how that worked and how the rest of the Unseelie faeries felt about it, but didn’t spend too much time milling over their love lives.

Presently, Cristina ran across the deserted Mexico road, her shiny black hair flying out behind her and a simple yellow sundress swinging on her frame. Emma barely had time to take in the Institute’s grand appearance, or Mark, who came tumbling out of the doors, or any of the other mundane establishments that obliviously surrounded the Mexico City Institute, when Cristina was on her, her suntanned arms flung around Emma’s neck. She knocked Emma flying, and the contents of Emma’s suitcases went flying through the air; the two of them fell back onto the patch of greenery which was shaded over by a single tree, and where the taxi had dropped Emma.

“Emma!” “Tina!” Emma laughed, pushing Cristina off of her with a laugh. “What were you planning on doing with my body once you’d strangled me?” Cristina laughed and leant back on her elbows in the midday sunshine.

“Sorry, Emma,” she said. She was beaming all over her face and looking at Emma with a strange look that she couldn’t decipher: it was a mixture of pride and content and extreme excitement.

“Are you gonna tell me, or -” Emma began to ask, but, before she could finish, Cristina had cried out with a smile,

“Mark and I are engaged!”

“Oh.” Emma said, with a solemn nod, not really taking in what Cristina was saying, but then she realised. “Oh! That kind of engaged!”

“Yes,” Cristina laughed, but Emma expected this was more of a nervous excitement. Cristina’s beaming lit up every single sun kissed feature of her face: her eyes were glinting with happiness, and her white teeth shone in the sunshine. “You’ll be my bridesmaid, of course?”

“Honey, have you met me?” Emma asked with raised eyebrows. Cristina blinked her confusion. “Uh, yes!”

“Oh, good,” Cristina laughed. “I’m so, so glad. I couldn’t bear the thought of getting married without my best friend there. Mark’s going to ask Julian to be his best man, of course, so we’ll have to get hold of him as soon as possible -” “What about Kieran?” Emma asked abruptly. She couldn’t figure out how the faerie king would fit into the equation: faerie Kings and Queens weren’t allowed human consorts, and, to her knowledge, neither Shadowhunter nor mundane laws allowed three-way marriages.

“Kieran?” Cristina repeated blankly, her mouth a perfect, surprised, ‘O’.

“Yes,” Emma replied slowly, in the same voice she’d heard Julian use a thousand times over when trying to explain something to Ty. I wonder how he is, Emma thought suddenly. I wonder how they all are. Helen and Ty and Dru and Tavvy. She’d slept through the nearly four-hour flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City, and, once she’d gotten off the plane, her first and most excited thought had been of Cristina. The Blackthorn family had never been so separated, what with Mark here in Mexico, Julian taking his own travel year in London, Helen, Ty, Dru and Tavvy still in LA, and Livvy - well, best not to think about that. She’d have to call Helen later.

“Yes,” she said now. “Kieran. Your third third. Angry guy. Always scowling. Hot when he can be bothered. Weasel face. The King of the Unseelie? Jeez, Tina, I thought you’d remember a guy like that.”

“I know who you mean,” Cristina said, and her eyes darkened and her cheeks reddened. Mark had joined them: his skin was less pale due to the scorching South American sun he’d faced over the past few weeks, and his pale blonde hair was longer than the last time Emma had seen him, curling around his cheekbones and resting on his collar. There was only some resemblance to Julian in him, in his blue eye, in the shape of his face, in the set of his chin and jaw. His faerie heritage was evident in the slight taper of his ears.

“He knows,” Mark explained for the seemingly dumbstruck Cristina. “He’s happy and will be attending, of course, even if the Unseelie Court technically forbids it. Although not by law, we are all married to each other in soul and spirit.”

“Aww,” Emma cooed. She put her hand over her heart and pouted mockingly. “That is so sweet.”

“I see we’ve reverted back to our first language of sarcasm,” Mark remarked with one crooked eyebrow and a slight curve to his lips.

“And I see we’ve reverted back to archaic British English?” Emma teased. Mark smiled fully now, and drew her in for a brief hug.

“It’s good to see you again, Emma.”

She flipped her blonde hair over her shoulder - the soft, golden tresses that she knew Julian so loved to paint - in imitation of someone she’d seen before, but she couldn’t quite think of who. Isabelle Lightwood or even - although she shuddered to think about her - Zara Dearborn.

“Don’t I know it.”

Cristina laughed, and bent to retrieve some of Emma’s discarded clothes, which lay dreary and crumpled on the pavement.

“Come on, Em,” she said warmly. “Let’s get you inside and we can explain more.”

The inside of the Mexico City Institute was quite different to the interior of the Los Angeles Institute. It was decorated with far more personal touches: pots of flowers of every hue and species - reds and blues and yellows and purples - and there were many, many photographs of Cristina and the Rocio Rosales, brothers Diego and Jaime, all through childhood into their teen years, and a few more recent ones - including some of Cristina and Mark and even Kieran.

There was a large staircase immediately in front of the doors, which led onto a platform with a huge stained glass window; two more sets of stairs led up from it in opposite directions. The window depicted the Angel Raziel, rising up out of Lake Lyn, holding both the Mortal Cup and the Mortal Sword - which Emma slightly sheepishly recalled shattering with her blade Cortana the year before - in marvellous hues of yellow and gold and blue in green, far more splendid and magnificent than anything even Julian could paint. The Shadowhunters’ motto was carved in the stone beneath the window: ‘Descensus facilis Averno est’, or ‘The decent into Hell is easy’. Emma shivered to think of the window shattering and the fires of Hell rising up in its place, engulfing the Institute. She blinked; the image left her mind almost immediately.

Two people were stood in front of the window, deeply conversing in Spanish: one was a small, dark woman who resembled Cristina, and the other was a tall, robust young man with curling dark hair and a faint but twisted scar across the side of his face. Emma recognised him immediately.

“Perfect Diego?” The boy, Diego Rocio Rosales - or, as he should have been called, Inquisitor Rosales, his proper title, as appointed by Consul Lightwood (Alec, another friend of Emma’s) - looked up from the conversation he was having with who could only be Cristina’s mother. Diego’s mouth curled into a reluctant smile when he saw Emma, and his eyes lit up with unexpected mischief. Emma recalled Cristina first explaining how a beautiful, wonderful boy had broken her heart, and then meeting that boy and discovering that he had tried to kill Julian. Emma had wanted to kill Diego then, both for hurting Cristina and hurting Julian (even if it was a case of mistaken identity), but then she had grown to appreciate his presence, and even see him as a friend. Then how he had turned out to be engaged to a Downworld-hating bigot, Zara Dearborn, whom Emma had attempted to kill on more than one occasion, and had turned out to be more than slightly crazy. She remembered Diego doing everything he could to save his brother, Jaime, even after the cruelty the Cohort had forced on them. She remembered Diego being nearly killed by a faerie following the battle against the Cohort and King Oban, Kieran’s crazed brother. All in all, she remembered a lot, not all good, but not all bad, either.

“Sorry, I meant Inquisitor Rosales,” she quickly amended, not quite keeping the sarcasm out of her tone.

“Emma Carstairs,” he said, turning to look at her. “I never thought I’d say I got to see you for a reason other than misbehaviour.” “Do you really think so lowly of me?” she asked, pretending to be hurt and cocking her head. “And I thought we were friends.”

Diego laughed, coming down the stairs to meet them and talk more properly. He looked at her with wide, hopeful dark eyes. “But we are, aren’t we?”

“Charmer,” she laughed, swatting away the hand he had held out. “You know exactly what’s going on with Jules and I.”

“And you know that I have a new girlfriend,” he said, also pretending to look offended. “I cannot believe you think so lowly of me, Emma.”

“So things worked out with you and Divya then?” she asked, genuinely intrigued. Divya Joshi was an Indian Shadowhunter, a Centurion trained at the Scholomance as Diego himself was before he was promoted to the post of Inquisitor. Emma had guessed that Divya and Diego were interested in each other the last time they had all been together, but everything had been such a whirlwind after that - Magnus and Alec’s wedding, so many funerals, the election of the new Consul, and then suddenly her travel year - that she hadn’t given it much thought.

“Yes,” Diego said, with an air of pride. “We’re actually engaged as well, as I’m sure Cristina and Mark have told you they are.”

“Oh, by the Angel, I’ve just realised something,” Emma said, hoping she sounded quite stricken. She clapped her hand over her mouth for dramatic effect, and was pleased when Diego, Cristina and Mark all looked at her in confusion and slight panic. Cristina even gripped her arm as if afraid Emma might fall to the floor. “It’s not going to be a double wedding, is it?”

She distinctly heard Cristina whisper, “Emma,” under her breath before leading Emma up the stairs and past the beautiful window and her mother, as both Emma and Mark shook with silent laughter.

#blackstairs #jemma blackstairs #kierarktina #kieran kingson #cristina mendoza rosales #emma carstairs #diegorociorosales #jaime rocio rosales #mexico #shadowhunters #institute #mark blackthorn #blackthorns #yesIcalleditpartnumerounobecauseimspeciallikethat

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laracastrowrites · 6 years

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Julian Blackthorn, dru blackthorn and nikolai lantsov 🙂 Also I love your blog!

Own thanks sweetie, I love your blog too *–*

Ok, so beforehand, I’ll say that I’ll consider “unpopular opinion” such as an opinion that I dont agree with the majority, as an opinion that I think might be controversial, meaning, an opinion that divides people, so without further ado:

Julian Blackthorn

How I feel about this character: ONE OF MY FAVORITE CHARACTERS OF ALL TIME ????? MY GREAT SMART WONDERFUL BEAUTIFUL SON I’D DIE A THOUSAND DEATHS FOR HIM ???? I LOVE HIM SO MUCH IT HURTS ???? CASSANDRA CLARE BEST CHARACTER TILL NOW HANDS DOWN ???? AND I CANT EVEN START TO TALK ABOUT HIM WITHOUT START GUSHING OVER HIM OR GET EMOTIONAL ????

All the people I ship romantically with this character: The one and only Emma Carstairs

My non-romantic OTP for this character: For some reason (I think because something in TftSA touched me, i dont know) Simon Lewis. Kit Herondale too, and, of course, all his (Julian’s I mean) siblings.

My unpopular opinion about this character: WOW, I dont know, how do I even choose? There are so much controversial about him, and I think I probably addressed lots of them that I dont agree with, but I’ll say this one again: Julian isn’t ruthless because of any curse, he is like that because of trauma.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: If he get out of TDA alive, I wish he would become inquisitor by the end of TWP lol

Dru Blackthorn

How I feel about this character: I absolute ADORE HER and she deserves more attention (especially from CC) and space in TDA!

All the people I ship romantically with this character: I dont ship her romantically with anyone for now.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: All her siblings plus Kit and… I think Jaime too (I dont ship them romantically, I think I made it clear before, but I did enjoy their friendship)

My unpopular opinion about this character: I dont think I have one…

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: I want her to be a freaking BADASS and maybe even an anti-hero too in TWP lol

Nikolai Lantsov

How I feel about this character: I LOVE MY PIRATE SON SO SO MUCH (i dont care what he says, to me he’s a pirate) I CANT WAIT FOR HIS DUALOGY LB BETTER MAKE HIM JUSTICE

All the people I ship romantically with this character: …….wow….this is actually pretty hard???? I mean, I lowkey, really lowkey shipped him with Alina in canon, but overall I dont think it was enough… So I think, for now, no one.

My non-romantic OTP for this character: Zoya, Nina (I mean, IMAGINE THIS DUO), Genya, Inej ( IMAGINE AGAIN THIS DUO, TWO PIRATES TOGETHER PIRATING OMG), Kaz, Alina, and… judge me, but even the Darkling, I mean, I think if LB took different paths with their arcs, they could’ve had great dynamics but we were robbed in lots of levels with TGT, so… *inhales sharply in frustration*

My unpopular opinion about this character: I dont think I have one…again.

One thing I wish would happen / had happened with this character in canon: If CANON hadn’t happened, sometimes I wish he had never become King of Ravka (cause Alarkling would be ruling together) and instead, persuaded his life fully as a “privateer” and engineer, but well… once it did happened, I just wish his happiness, truly, and LONG LIVE THE KING! AND I want that at some point in KoS, we’ll accompany him in a pirate adventure over the seas (a girl can dream… I mean, if it wasnt for CANON, we could have had a pirate dualogy with him right now, but well…)

#ask #mostawesomepineapple #thanks for not letting this flop completely #julian blackthorn #drusilla blackthorn #nikolai lantsov #tda #tgt

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