moodreadmoonchild

[moodreadmoonchild]

so i finally did a thing. if you want to follow me there i’ll be doing book recs, reviews, and bookish content there. my deep dive half baked theories with stay here.

[moodreadmoonchild]

Matthew "You weren't mine to lose" Fairchild and James "I knew you'd miss me once the thrill expired" Herondale and Cordelia "The worst thing that I ever did Was what I did to you" Carstairs

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Bryce really arrived in the Eternal City and went eww why is everything so old and then arrived in Prythian looked around and said eww why am I in olden times what are they wearing. She said trying to save the world doesn't mean you have to stop being a fashion and design hoe and I respect that

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I must be stopped

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ty going to transylvania without dru? talk about top 10 anime betrays

Ty to Emma

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Mina running around & drawing on people with a toy stele is the most wholesome thing to imagine on a monday morning

Emma to Bruce

Dear Bruce,

Bruce, Bruce, Bruce. Will I keep writing to you when all these renovations are done? When things have returned to some form of normalcy? Or is normalcy over—is the crack in the Nephilim world one that can’t be healed but will only widen over time, with more and more changes, until finally there is too much change to bear? In which case I guess I will keep writing to you, Bruce, as a kind of silent witness to the strangeness of these times.

Sorry, sorry. I am feeling a little poetic tonight because Jem and Tessa and Kit and Mina arrived today and…well, that’s just kind of how Jem and Tessa talk. Being, you know. Way old. And because it feels like all this business with the cursed house is in its final chapters and I don’t have any idea how things are going to be after that.

In any event we didn’t do anything about the curse today, we just ended up visiting with the Carstairs-Herondales, who should definitely pick a shorter name we can use for them. Team Victorian Era? Team Time When Everything Was Very Romantic But It Took Forever To Get Anywhere? Hm. I guess I’ll ask them for ideas, since mine are, uh, bad.

There was some complication right when they arrived. We had picked out a couple of bedrooms for them to use and asked the brownies to make them up with sheets and towels and all that. And then we checked them before the guests arrived and I’m glad we did because the faeries had made up all the rooms for…birds? Like, for huge, person-sized birds. Big nests of sticks, six feet across, and branches to perch on. And big balls of birdseed hanging from the ceiling.  So we had to ask them to redo the rooms and the brownies looked so disappointed. (But we didn’t say the guests were birds! I have no idea why they thought that!) The worst part is they did a really nice job, like, if we were being visited by giant birds they would have been very comfortable. They still seemed puzzled when everyone did show up that Mina wasn’t a big egg. Faeries, man.

Speaking of Mina, who is not a big egg but rather a small toddler, she is extremely cute. She is walking now, or toddling, I guess, and she says “mama” and “dada” and also “kish” which apparently is what she calls Kit. And she has a little wooden toy stele that she is constantly trying to scribble on everyone with. Apparently Kit has been learning runes and Mina wants to learn them too.

We should have just gone straight into curse-breaking but to be honest we were just having a very nice time hanging out. Tessa and Jem are very easy to spend time with, which is nice given how high-strung most of our other friends are. I suppose once you’ve gone through all the stuff that has happened to them, it takes a lot to upset you. Just the way Jem talks about the curse makes me feel more reassured that we’ll be able to fix it, even though we don’t really know what we’re doing or what’s gone wrong so far.

They seem really impressed by the house, also, which makes Julian look all proud of himself in a highly adorable way. Tessa said the last time either of them were here was after Tatiana was arrested and sent to be an Iron Sister, and they were searching it for demon stuff. (Most of which, she admitted, they clearly didn’t find. It seems obvious from the way she talks that they didn’t understand how dangerous Tatiana really was until it was too late—I really want to ask her about that but it seemed a dark topic while we were all having a good time.) Jem said by that time it was already in pretty bad shape, but Tessa said she saw the house once “in its prime” at a ball, and then she blushed a little. Whatever happened during that ball must have been pretty impressive if she’s blushing about it 130 years later!

Of course there’s still that overall shroud of heavy memory that kind of hangs over the place, and no amount of new paint and replaced windows can help that. That’d be the curse, of course. Still, it felt cheerier this evening than it ever has before. For the first time I felt a little like it was our house and friends had come to visit and it was surprisingly nice and ordinary. As long as I don’t think about what’s going on with the Clave.

Also a concern: Kit. He was hanging out with us most of the day, but he was really quiet, for him, and a couple of times he excused himself to go take a walk in the garden. Julian said he thinks Kit broke up with his girlfriend and maybe he’s sad about that, but I don’t know. He was really jumpy whenever any of the builders were around, and kept a close eye on them anytime they were nearby. Round Tom introduced himself and Kit nodded, but he didn’t say his name or much of anything else. I mean, you can hardly blame him. His relationship to faeries, and Faerie itself, is complicated. According to Tessa, Cirenworth is very tightly warded against faerie incursions, and even the town and the roads nearby are protected. Magnus and Catarina made sure of it. So this would be one of the first times he’s been around faeries since the big battle outside Alicante; even though these faeries are safe, it must be weird for him.

But you know Kit. He has this aura about him like he doesn’t want to answer any questions about how he’s doing. Today he’s been out front, watching the faeries in the garden — it could be he’s worried about them, or maybe he wants to join them? I don’t know. Maybe Julian or I can get him to open up a little while he’s here. Or maybe I’ll get a moment to ask Jem or Tessa if they know what’s up.

Anyway, that’s all from me for now, Bruce. Tomorrow we break a curse! I hope!

Emma

[moodreadmoonchild]

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the love i have for Kit & Dru’s dynamic borders on ridiculous. i’m obsessed with their friendship

Kit to Dru

[moodreadmoonchild]

Poor Sona 😅 She's the sweetest mom though, we know she just wants them to be happy at the end of the day ❤️ These characters are from The Last Hours series by @cassandraclare

[moodreadmoonchild]

gods bless whoever at netflix decided to make and post this gift to us

This is the best thing ever. Dear Netflix intern, please release all the footage.

[moodreadmoonchild]

i love a good fluff first thing in the morning with my coffee

I Win

Jordelia/Ghostwriter One-Shot

A big thank you to @myangelbach, who gave me the idea for this fic and who this fic is dedicated too <33

CW: None, just fluff <3

“I am clearly better-”

“That is not true. I am a superior character-”

“I’m the main character, Jaimie!”

“And yet you hardly talk,” James protested. “All you do is kiss people. I get to fight things.”

“So do I! And I fight much scarier things than you do,” Cordelia argued. Lucie watched in amusement as her brother and her sister-in-law argued over who the better character in her book was. The Beautiful Cordelia vs. Cruel Prince James. The funniest part was they did this all with Cordelia half lying on James and playing with his hair, James ignoring the book placed in his lap they’d both been reading before.

“Do they do this a lot?” Jesse whispered.

She grinned. “Hardly. That’s why it’s funny when they do.”

He hummed, and they went back to watching the other couple bicker.

“Well, I have a better name,” Cordelia said.

“How so?”

“Beautiful is a much better title, Cruel.”

“But I’m not even that cruel in the novel, it's just a scary title.”

“A-hah,” she said, raising a finger. “But I live up to my title since The Beautiful Cordelia is beautiful, and your character isn’t cruel!”

“She has a fair point,” Jesse said.

“I think Cruel Prince James is very cruel,” Lucie defended.

James looked at his sister. “Thank you Lucie.”

“Oh,” she said, smirking slyly, “I’m not on your side.”

James made an offended noise though he smiled as Cordelia burst out laughing. He threw up his hand. “Where is Matthew? He’d take my side.”

“Matthew is indisposed with his parents at the moment,” Jesse said, “I crossed paths with him and the other thieves on my way over here.”

“Unfortunate.”

“I think he’d take my side,” Cordelia decided, pretending to study her nails.

James stuck his tongue out at her. “He most certainly would not.”

“Would so.”

“Would not.”

“Would so.”

“He would not.” James smirked. “And anyways, Cruel Prince James is better-”

“Oh?”

“Because he’s more loyal to his love interests.”

Cordelia made a betrayed face at him as Lucie and Jesse started laughing in their seats. “A low blow, James,” Jesse said, “A very low blow.”

“It’s true,” he said, looking at Lucie and holding out a hand as if to say am I wrong?

“The Beautiful Cordelia is not unloyal to her lovers! Lucie, tell him!”

Lucie looked up. “Well…”

“Lucie!!”

“I didn’t say anything yet!”

“Yet!”

“She’s not as heart-broken about all her suitors constantly dying, I will say-”

“Well, that’s not my fault.”

“We’re not talking about you and I, Daisy, we're talking about our book forms,” James said.

“Same difference!”

“Hold on-”

“Wait! I know why The Beautiful Cordelia is better!”

He raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”

“Yes!”

“Do go on.”

Cordelia was grinning widely, looking at James as he leaned back against the arm of the loveseat, smiling contently. Lucie leaned against Jesse, closing her eyes as he wrapped an arm around her back. She opened them to watch Cordelia and James continue their bickering.

“I have better abilities! And a better sword! And better outfits!”

“That’s three reasons,” Jesse noted. Lucie elbowed him gently.

James raised an eyebrow again. “How are your abilities better?”

“I am a better fighter-”

“Well-”

“I have more charm-”

“Now I’m hurt-”

“And I have a much better way with words.”

“Perhaps. But your weapon is not better.”

“It is a glowing sword, Jaimie.”

“Exactly, it defeats the purpose of stealth.”

“That has gotten her in trouble a few times,” Lucie noted thoughtfully.

“But it’s bigger.”

“And?”

“Sharper.”

“We don’t know that.”

“More beautiful than some dull steel sword.”

James hummed. “Perhaps. What about the clothing? My outfits are wonderful.”

“They are dark and gloomy.” She straightened her back with pride. “Mine are more elaborate and beautiful.”

“This is true,” Lucie said.

James threw up a hand, smiling at his wife. “You win then, I suppose.”

Cordelia crossed her arms with a dignified hmph, and looked at Lucie. “Does the author verify this?”

“Indeed she does,” Lucie said.

Cordelia tapped James’ nose. “I win.”

“Don’t you mean,” he lowered her hand, “The Beautiful Cordelia wins?”

She smiled. “Same difference.”

He just laughed, and they all let out happy little cheers as Jesse stood to fetch them more tea. “A new debate then,” Lucie said, clapping her hands together.

“I have one,” James said.

“Oh?”

“Yes. Who is better? Brave Princess Lucinda or Sir Jethro?”

“Sir Jethro,” Jesse said, sitting back down with a tea tray newly placed on the coffee table. “Conversation over.”

“Wait a minute-” Lucie protested.

James laughed softly along with Cordelia, and she looked over at him to find her husband staring at her. “What?” She asked quietly as the other couple continued to bicker.

“Nothing,” he said, kissing her forehead. “But I think I agree with you,” he said, “The Beautiful Cordelia is absolutely a magnificent woman.”

She just smiled and relaxed against him once more, smiling slightly. “And I suppose Cruel Prince James is rather wonderful.” He just laughed and kissed her head again, both relaxing to the quiet thud of rain on the window and bickering of Jesse and Lucie. It was a good night.

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[moodreadmoonchild]

Julian just wanting to keep Magnus in the loop as a friend and confidant warms my heart to a whole other level. so wholesome. what a sweet boy

Julian to Magnus

Dear Magnus,

Mark this date down! For once I am writing to you with answers instead of questions. I know you probably felt a sinking sensation when you saw the letter is from me, and considered going into the Witness Protection Program (Warlock Protection Program?) but I’m actually only writing to give you the latest updates. And the great news is, we know a lot more than the last time I talked to you.

First: the ghost in Blackthorn Hall is Rupert Blackthorn, Tatiana’s husband. He’s stuck in the house because of the curse. As near as we can tell, his spirit was floating around Blackthorn Hall anyway, because he died here (according to Tessa and Jem, in quite violent circumstances). But then the curse was fading after Tatiana’s father’s death, since it was tied to him, and Tatiana started to have to do regular maintenance over the following years to keep it working. We have no idea if Tatiana even knew Rupert’s ghost was here in the first place, or knew that the curse was keeping him here—but it clearly did, and has been all this time. He’s observed a lot over the years, I suspect.

The curse works, it seems, by being embedded in objects that are placed on ley lines that interact at Blackthorn Hall. (This was very clever of Benedict, since the objects themselves were not at the house and thus the curse wouldn’t be detected by Shadowhunters searching here. He didn’t make provisions for faery contractors, lucky for us.) Also, because Tatiana had to keep the curse up, she periodically replaced the objects with new things she’d taken herself. And she took things belonging to Herondales, Carstairs, Lightwoods…the people she hated and their kids. Maybe she thought her hatred would make the curse stronger, maybe she just liked stealing from those people and using their possessions for her own purposes. Hard to say, but it doesn’t really matter. Find the (remaining) objects, lift the curse, free Rupert, and get back to refurbishing the house so we can live here curse-free.

ADDENDUM: It is the next morning, and I have a bit of good news. Rupert knows where one of the objects is! Or at least he has a place he wants us to go. Communication with Rupert still includes a lot of interpretation. In this case we came down to breakfast today to find a very antique envelope we had never seen before in the middle of the kitchen floor. Whatever correspondence was in it is long gone, and the writing was smudged, but we could make out the address, which is on Curzon Street in central London. Some quick fire-messages and we learned that Tessa’s son James lived in a house on Curzon Street a hundred-plus years ago. It still belongs to the Herondales, in fact, but years ago, pre-Jace, probably pre-Jace’s-dad, it was given to the National Trust. So it’s open to the public as a historic building but I guess Jace still technically owns it. So off we go, some tourists who just want to visit a historic home, hoping we find something. Tessa said as far as she knows it hasn’t been inhabited by Shadowhunters for a long time, and if there was some antique thing put there by Tatiana, it could easily have been sold or put in storage or who knows what. Rupert wouldn’t know that. There’s also the question of how much of the house is open to the public and how we might search the parts that aren’t. Emma suggests we get Kit on the phone and have him tell them that as a Herondale he gives us permission, but I’m not sure that’s how it works.

So the situation is still far from fixed, but we’ve made a bit of progress, at least. And Emma likes to point out that things could be way worse. Rupert could be a vengeful poltergeist constantly destroying things or trying to drive us out, but instead he seems to recognize that the way to get what he wants is to help us. I don’t think we can depend on him to find some piece of hundred-year-old trash that will point us to all the objects, but we have a place to go next, and we still have Tatiana’s diary and Ty’s Ghost Sensor. And I feel much better having a concrete goal.

And you may be thinking, well, okay, so what do you want from me? And the answer is, nothing at all!

Thanks again, and our love to Alec and everyone there.

Julian

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church is such an icon

Julian to Helen and Aline

Hi guys. We just got back from Cirenworth and seeing Jem, Tessa, Kit (and Mina, of course.) I learned a great deal about Kit, about a gun and an old Herondale named James. I have to sort my thoughts out, but in the meantime, here's a photo of all of us at Cirenworth. You ought to go sometime. It's a pretty cool place.

J.

[moodreadmoonchild]

idk what i love more, that Kieran addresses Julian as “my dear brother” or that he ended the letter with “Hail Kraig.” what an icon

Kieran to Julian

To: Julian Blackthorn, Master of Blackthorn Hall

From: The Court of Unseelie

My dear Brother,

Mark has shared with me, with your permission I gather, the contents of your last letter to him as they regard Round Tom and the manor house. I have investigated what you ask, and it unfortunately falls to me to agree with yon Thomas: Blackthorn Hall is suffering under a curse.

I am sure that from your perspective, the bad news is less the fact of the house’s curse, and more the additional charges that Round Tom has added for the repairs and updates that his team is performing. It must especially vex you that these new prices do not include the breaking of the curse, but are only meant to cover the increased risks for the workers and the extra protections they will need to take.

I have already taken steps to seek a solution, but pray let me explain the situation, perhaps somewhat more cogently than R. Tom was able.

First, please know that Tom’s unwillingness to break the curse in fact is a prime example of his virtue (or, Mark has suggested, his fear of the office I hold; I choose to think it the former). The company working on Blackthorn Hall is not at all qualified to address such a complex thing as a curse. In this situation, many of the fey (though I am loath to admit it) would claim they could solve the problem, and would charge you enormously for a task they could not, in truth, accomplish. That Tom has not done so is a credit to him.

I appreciated your suggestion that the curse and the specter haunting the house could be one and the same. Unfortunately, when I communicated with Round Tom through my sources—

(Mark has interfered to admonish me for not simply saying General Winter; my apologies. Speaking plainly in written correspondence can be remarkably difficult for one used to the politics of Faerie.)

Unfortunately, after communicating with Round Tom via General Winter, I have been assured beyond a doubt that the ghost and the curse are different articles. Round Tom’s words, I believe, were to the effect that,

“Old houses always have ghosts. We don’t mind ghosts, and they do not interfere with our work. A curse, however, does, and Blackthorn Hall is cursed.”

He also made clear that it had been his impression that you already knew—that when the house’s owner shares the same name as the house, they likely already know enough of the history to be aware of a curse. Of course, he doesn’t know anything about the history of the Blackthorn family, and he should not have made such an assumption.

I pressed him to lower the price anyway, as a personal favor, and explained that the circumstances of your taking ownership were quite unexpected. I am sorry to say that he could not be moved. He produced a veritable library’s worth of treaties, bylaws, and charters to support his contention that these protections for his men were guaranteed by the Courts of Faerie, and in fact, he is correct.

I am therefore in the regretful position of suggesting that you focus your efforts on discovering and lifting the curse. While it is true that Round Tom and his crew will be unable to assist you, I know you to be a well-connected member of the Nephilim, and among your friends and companions many warlocks, Silent Brothers, and so on are to be found. I have every confidence in you and Emma; surely no curse can go long unlifted once the two of you have committed yourselves to its end. I have enclosed a brochure that might be helpful, as it is intended for those who have just discovered their dwelling-place is cursed. (Mark tells me one should never utter the words “I have enclosed a brochure” in personal correspondence, but I am not sure how else to word what I am doing. Perhaps “Lo, a pamphlet” would have been more appropriate.)

Thank you also for the delicious cake that you sent. While it does not stir the wild blood of my heart as faerie food does, it was a delicious accompaniment to a pot of strong tea, and we enjoyed it here muchly. Mark has informed me that this cake was created by a mundane, Victoria Sponge. All credit to Lady Sponge, and to you for sharing her artistry with us!

Mark and Cristina send their love. To that I attach my own, and remain etc. etc. Hail Kraig.

Kieran

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Kaz and Inej 🌙

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Haha why is Cordelia white

[moodreadmoonchild]

Herondale Big 3

Will: capricorn ☀️, sagittarius 🌙, gemini ⬆️

James: virgo ☀️, pisces 🌙, scorpio ⬆️

Lucie: aries ☀️, libra 🌙, gemini ⬆️

Jace: capricorn ☀️, cancer 🌙, leo ⬆️

Kit: cancer ☀️, capricorn 🌙, libra ⬆️

the big 3 energy i get for all my herondales. only Will’s sun sign is confirmed. Jace’s birthday is sometime in january so he could technically be an aquarius but Jace gives so much cap sun energy to me. that mixture of cockiness, insecurity and self-hatred along with his sarcasm screams cap sun energy.