#magnus and jace will always be frenemies to me

[lurafita]

Clary: Magnus, keep an eye on Jace today, please. He is going to say something to the wrong person and get punched.

Magnus: Sure, I'd love to see Jace getting punched.

Alec: Try again.

Magnus, sighing: I will try to stop Jace from getting punched.

[lovemalecforever]

Chapter 12

Family isn't always blood

Alec looked at his Parabatai then to his sister then to him again and sighed heavily before speaking. "Because there is something I want to talk about which needs all of your presence."

"Excuse me!?" Jace exclaimed, "Alec, I can feel your nervousness, what is going on? You're making me scared buddy, we almost lost yo-"

"Jace, calm down. I'll tell you when everyone will be here, and it's nothing bad, okay?"

Even after the reassurance, Jace was still not convinced. He could feel how scared and nervous Alec was through their bond. There were so many probabilities running through his mind, minding that Magnus wasn't there with him when that man never leaves his brother alone.

"Jace, stop. I can literally feel you getting stressed up, I told you, Jace, it's nothing, just... wait for a while."

Jace sighed and nodded. He had met his Parabatai, his brother after a long time, and making him upset or angry was the last thing he wanted. "Sorry Alec, but really, you told Izzy that you're coming but not me? Seriously? Am I not important to you anymore?" he dramatically put his hand over his chest. "You have hurt me, dude."

Alec rolled his eyes. "Stop being overdramatic, Jace. Besides, the look on your face told me that it was worth it."

"Boyzzz!" Izzy interrupted, shaking her head at her brothers for their silliness. "So, big brother, whom do you want to meet first, Clary or Simon?" Out of everyone, Izzy knew really well that Alec considers them family now, remembering the fact that he admitted it when she and Simon visited him.

"It's been long I've seen nugget in training mode. I would like to see her training and meanwhile, tell Simon to come here, I want to talk to you both privately before talking to everyone else."

"What the hell!? Alec, First, stop giving my girlfriend these stupid nicknames, and second what are you guys are up to?"

"Jace, stop." Izzy spoke firmly, "Don't bombard our brother with questions, he just arrived. And, besides, I want to see how Clary's doing so can we move now?"

"Fine, let's go." Jace sighed, and they left for the training room.

While heading towards the training room, Alec didn't miss the changes that had been made at the Institute, especially the weapons room. He knew he made the right decision to make his sister the Head of the Institute when he accepted the post of Inquisitor at Alicante, and she's doing a brilliant job. He couldn't help but feel proud of his sister.

It's been around an hour since Clary started her training, her hair was tied up in a ponytail, she was wearing a perfectly fitted navy blue sports bra with red stripes on it, the back having cross straps with blue-grey yoga pants and red and blue colored sports shoes. Her hands were wrapped in boxing bandages, blowing punches and kicks to the punching bag, which had now started to tear.

"Slow down Parabatai, looks like you're having a bad day, or did you not get it last night, huh?" Izzy teased as she walked towards her soon-to-be Parabatai, a smirk playing on her face, and Jace's face flushed.

"Izzy, Hey!" Clary greeted then held the towel that Izzy offered her. "And to answer your question, both. Bad day because Jace was being an idiot last night, and this morning too." She said, making Izzy burst into laughter.

"Really Clary, discussing our sex life with my sister!? Not appreciated!" Jace said as he walked in.

"She's my best friend, Herondale. I can discuss whatever I want." Clary shrugged and snatched the water bottle that he offered her.

"Oops! Looks like someone screwed up badly." Izzy said while suppressing her laugh, earning a glare from Jace.

Clary almost choked on the water she was drinking and dropped the bottle on the floor in the process when her eyes fell on the third person present in that room, standing by the door frame.

"ALEC!"

"Hello, Carrot!" Alec walked in and laughed when she literally jumped on him. "Get down, carrot, you're drenched in sweat."

"Really! Carrot, Carrot!? Seriously, Alec, I told you to stop giving her names, don't you-"

"I find it cute," Clary said, interrupting her boyfriend and making him dumbfounded. "Alec, when did you come? And where's Magnus?" She asked when her excitement died down and was back on her feet.

"Just now, and Magnus didn't come, I had some work."

"Okay, now I'm jealous, what had Simon done, big brother? Jace? Why do you both treat him like that?" Izzy pouted.

"I like him, but that vampire gets under my skin sometimes. No offense, Izzy." Jace said flatly.

"Izzy, Simon had done nothing, you know I like him, I just don't feel like being like that around him. There's nothing else." Alec reassured, making her sigh.

Izzy's phone buzzed, breaking their chain of conversation. She picked it up to check the message. "It's Si, he'll be here in some time. Your room or my office?" She asked.

"In my room," Alec answered while Jace and Clary kept glancing between the siblings. "I'll tell you both later."

Clary nodded. "I'm going to get a shower, see you later, Alec." With that, she picked up her stuff and left the hall.

"Wait, Clary! Excuse me!" Jace said hurried after his girlfriend leaving the other two laughing at their situation.

"It's good to have her back, you know," Izzy said when they both left the room. "Jace is a different person now, and happier too."

"I know. I can feel it. I'm happy for him, he deserves this. Looking back at how broken he was 3 years ago, I'm really happy that Clary got her memories back. They didn't deserve what happened 5 years ago."

"What's wrong!?" She asked when she noticed an unknown expression clouding her brother's face.

"Izzy, promise me you won't tell Jace what I'm about to say, else I won't hear the end of it."

Izzy raised her brow but eventually nodded.

"You know how much I used to hate Clary when she first came into our lives, she's still annoying, but looking at her now, at them, they are meant for each other, they complete each other. And I'm really happy that they found each other, all over again." He said, having a bright smile on his face.

"You're right, big brother. Jace will never stop teasing you if he'll hear what you just said. And, I agree, they are meant for each other."

Clary came back to their lives almost two and a half years ago. It took her almost a year and a half after meeting Jace at her painting exhibition to regain her memories of the shadow world. When she remembered Jace at the alley of the building where her exhibition was held, Jace frequented their meetings in the hope that she'd remember everything but hid it from everyone else. That was until Simon found out and confronted him, in the process bumping into her becoming the second person she remembered.

Clary always had an empty space in her heart, a void, which kept telling her that something was missing. That was until she met Jace, and she knew that she knew him from somewhere. There were bits and pieces in her mind of a club, bike riding, or some similar events, but they were never complete.

When both boys told everyone about Clary, it was Magnus who advised them to take things slow and not rush her memories. She met everyone, remembered them one by one, Luke being the third one, then Jocelyn, followed by the incomplete memory of her death, which resulted in regaining her memories at a great pace.

What broke the floodgates of her memories was when Jace and Clary were returning from their date, and they were attacked by a shapeshifting demon, which Clary killed with complete ease, shocked at first, but the sudden appearance and disappearance of her runes made her remember that she's a Shadowhunter.

The most beautiful thing which happened between all this was Clary fell in love with Jace all over again, oblivious about their past and Jace's feelings, making him the happiest person in the universe.

When she remembered everything, and stepped into the institute once again, and got all her runes back, she was visited by her mother's soul once again telling her that the Angels had forgiven her, she still has her extra share of powers, but she needs to be careful this time and not repeat the mistakes she made in the past. From that time on she became a completely new person. Better than before, more fierce, stronger, but still stubborn, annoying, and irritating at times.

The most epic thing to happen was Alec and Clary's relationship. From hating each other to frenemies to friends to a weird brother-sister relationship, they came a long way. The bitter comments Alec used to make about her were now more of teasing and mocking in a good way. They had started understanding each other, making everyone around them shocked with their bonding.

***************************

Simon was already pacing in Alec's room when Izzy and Alec entered, making Alec sigh out of frustration. "Stop digging holes in my carpet, Lewis," Alec commented.

"Really!?"

"Boys!" Izzy shook her head. "I can't with you people!" She mumbled, then turned towards her brother. "So, what did you find Alec?"

"Everything!" He answered and explained to them the complete process of becoming immortal. When he was done both of their faces were filled with shock and astonishment.

"So, you have to drink Fray's blood and ask her to talk to Angel Ithuriel on your behalf, that's... interesting. Do you think she'll agree?" Simon asked curiously.

"That we'll see. Are you both okay with this?" Alec asked hesitantly.

Simon and Izzy exchanged a look. "Of course we are, big brother. I'm really happy for you." She hugged her brother tightly. Alec looked at Simon who nodded and smiled at him, he smiled back and mouthed thank you to him.

They broke their hug and Alec sighed with relief. "I'm glad to have your support, but, Izzy, I need advice, I'm confused."

"What is it?"

"Should I wait for everyone to arrive and talk to them tonight altogether, or I'll talk to everyone privately? I don't know how everyone's gonna react, especially Jace and Clary."

Izzy didn't know what to say to that. She looked at Simon than at her brother, trying to form words when Simon broke the silence.

"Um... I don't know what you think, Iz, but I think you should talk to everyone privately, talking to everyone at the same time would mean too many emotions in one place when you don't know how will everyone react which can become uneasy for you. But it's completely up to you." He said carefully.

"I think you're right Simon, thank you. It might take time, but I'll get a fair amount of time with everyone. And I think I'm going to make Jace and Clary wait for the last." He said with a chuckle.

"Now, Izzy, till the time mom and Luke arrive, why don't you and Clary show me what I've asked for!?" He asked with a wide smile.

Simon had a confused expression from his question, making Alec chuckle with the realization that neither of the women had told anyone about the gifts he had asked them to help him make for Magnus.

"Come on then, big brother. It's in Clary's room." She wrapped her arm around her brother's, dropped the silencing rune, and walked towards Jace and Clary's shared room. When they were near their room they heard loud arguments coming from their room making them exchange looks.

"Can we come in Fray? Or are you both going to continue with whatever you were arguing about?" Simon asked while suppressing his laugh, earning a flying pillow from Clary, which he dodged successfully, making Alec and Izzy burst with laughter, and Jace completely embarrassed.

"Are you people done?" Alec asked.

Clary cleared her throat and steadied herself. "Yeah, come in."

"Are you still working on it, or is it completed? Alec wants to see it." Izzy said the excitement was clearly visible in her voice.

"Oh, are you sure Alec? It's not completed yet."

"Completed or not, I want to see both of your's!"

"Okay, it's in my art room."

"Art room?" "What the hell is going on!?" Alec and Jace said at the same time.

Jace was carefully listening to their conversation, making a frown appear on his forehead. He looked at Simon who was mirroring his confused expressions, but no one else, making his nerves rise.

Alec sighed. "Izzy and Clary, may I know why you both kept it hidden from them?" He waved towards Simon and Jace.

"We thought it would be nice to surprise them too, we want to see their expressions when it's done," Izzy said.

Jace and Simon exchanged a look, Jace was about to say something when Alec raised his hand to shut him up. He shook his head in disbelief. "I didn't get my answer, Art room?"

"Oh, my old room, now that I share the room with Jace, I converted that to my personal Art room. Are you really sure, Alec?"

"Yes, and anyways I want it completed before I leave for Alicante."

"Are you sure, big brother? Will you be able to hide from Magnus for that long?" Izzy raised her brow at him.

"Alec, if this makes you relieved, I got permission from Angels to use the portal rune as a permanent rune for me, and anyways I and Izzy are gonna portal to the lakeside to complete all the decorations you've asked for. You can meet us there and take the gifts from us." Clary said.

Alec looked at Clary in disbelief. "You got permission? That's something. Okay then, take your time, but it should be completed by Wednesday."

"We're almost done, big brother. Don't worry!"

*************

They all walked towards Clary's Art room, Alec was way too excited to see what they've done. Clary opens the door, which was filled with the scent of fresh colors, different shapes of brushes were spread in the whole room and a bunch of them were kept in a pen stand with several watercolor bottles and charcoal pencils on a wooden table in the corner of the room. There were different shapes of canvases filled in the whole room.

Clary went forward and removed a red-colored cloth that was covering a medium-sized canvas, only to reveal 3 frame-sized paintings pinned on the canvas, the 4th one was ongoing and one was empty. Alec's jaw fell on the ground seeing them.

"You... you're painting them!?"

"You like it?" Clary asked nervously, biting her nails, and looked at Izzy.

Alec went forward and traced his fingers over the painting of their wedding, both in tuxedos, holding hands, a look of pure happiness on their faces. "Put this in the center, and frame them properly. Magnus is going to love it. And I do too. Thank you, redhead!"

Clary sighed with relief and nodded with a warm smile.

"What the he-"

"Wow, these are beautiful Fray, so that's not the only surprise you're planning for Magnus? It's so lovely!"

"Yes, there's more Simon. I told you and Izzy alre-"

"What is going on!? And why am I the only one who doesn't know anything!?" Jace yelled.

Alec sighed for the billionth time that day. "Jace, are you really not getting it, or are you seriously not remembering!?"

Every eyes were on Jace now. "Remember wha... oh shit!" He gulped when he realized the paintings were from Alec's wedding to all of their following anniversaries. And it's his brother's anniversary next week.

"Sorry, Alec. I forgot about your anniversary. So, that's why Magnus is not here, you're planning a surprise, huh?" He said teasingly knowing that his brother is bad with surprises.

Alec rolled his eyes and smacked Jace on the back of his head, earning a whiney 'Ow' from him while others burst into laughter. "So, Izzy!?"

"It's in the weapons room, come on!"

*********************

They were all in the weapons room, Izzy had vacated the room for some time, and they were the only five present there. She went towards the right side rack, opened the second last drawer and took out a black-colored box, and walked towards the center table where everyone was standing.

"Big brother, it's yet to be completed. The whole engraving is remaining, you sure!?"

"Engraving?" Others said in unison.

"Yes, Izzy! Just show me whatever is done!"

Izzy opened the box to reveal a set of 3 diamond rings, sitting on fake fingers, two on the base and one in the middle of the finger, each connected with silver chains having tiny emeralds covering the whole chain. It was a really beautiful ring. There was a bundle of diamond cuts sitting on the base of the box.

Everyone's jaws were dropped on the floor. The ring was shining brightly in the dullness of the room.

"Why extra diamonds?" Clary asked curiously.

"These are going to be fixed on the engraving. Alec, thoughts?" She asked, her voice filled with nervousness and excitement.

"Wow! I... I'm speechless. You did a great job, Izzy. Magnus is definitely going to fall in love with it."

"I already am," Clary confessed. Her eyes were shining with the lights the diamond ring was emitting.

"I didn't know my girlfriend was this talented!" Simon said. He and Jace were completely dumbfounded.

They all got out of their trance with a loud squeal Izzy made, way too excited and proud of her work. They all exchanged a look and shook their heads at her.

Before Izzy could say, her phone buzzed and her expressions went from excited to soft.

"What?" Alec asked.

"Mom and Luke are here, you're ready, Alec?"

Alec sighed. "Let's get this over with!"

[apathologicalpeoplepleaser2]

My review of the Shadowhunters-finale part 1

Shadowhunters-finale… even the sound of it feels surreal. I tried so hard to figure out a great way to start this - so far - last review of this series that taught me so much, but I couldn���t manage to find anything clever enough, so sorry about that. Since the finale is longer than other episodes, I will share this review in a couple of parts. I fully understand if you disagree with me, and hurting other people is not my intention.

Given that Freeform only gave the gang two hours to bind everything together, the episode was MARVELOUS. I loved the dialogues with different, perhaps even unique, allies. They gave us as much glimpses as they could about what would’ve happened if this show hadn’t been cancelled and left some things open because they trust our imagination and wanted to leave room for spin-offs and renewals. This episode made me laugh, clap, ship and cry my heart out. So many sacrifices and surprises.  I still can’t accept that this might be it.

At this update, I want to focus on the main character of this show - Clarissa Fairchild. 

You don’t have to believe me, but this is the truth. When I first saw the trailer of 3B, I was reading the last book of TMI. And the moment I saw Clary running away crying, the first thought that came into my mind was: “Oh my God, what if they erase Clary’s memories in the end, like they did with Simon?” I almost wrote about it here, but I did not have the guts, since I strongly believed that I would be “torn apart”. So I actually had time to process that. And after seeing how that ending was reacted to, I am really glad that I did not. I understand why people are mad about this resolution, since Clary is the main character who grew up so much during the series. I am upset about that too. The thought about her suffering silently, being alone, forgetting the huge part of herself, ripped away from the world and people she loves so much... it tears me apart. But…

It is sad how some people can never be satisfied. When the spotlight was on Clary, people wanted more of the downworlders and Malec. When we got it, some of us were bitching about the lack of Clary. Of course we are able to express our opinions about certain characters and wanting some of them more than others, and I have done it myself. But this is everyone’s show, they did their best to honor every character with the time they had, and we should appreciate even the smallest things we got. There is only so much you can do in 40 minutes’ episodes (or even two back to back), and you still have to keep plot going. It is not easy, no matter how experienced the makers are. And I strongly believe that if show had continued, we would’ve gotten even more balance to it. 

When the show started, Kat was constantly criticized for her acting, perhaps the most when it comes to the cast. People compared her to Lily Collins (and I was one of them, ashamedly)  and kept telling that she looks and acts nothing like Clary. Yes, gladly many people recognized her growth and ability to evolve in acting along the way. But still, when you look at the Tumblr-pages, almost everyone else got more attention than Clary. She was tossed aside by fans. Many people shrugged the Clary and Jonathan plot line away as disgusting - which is kind of right, since incest is not right in any circumstances. But the books represented that and wanted to show that there are some issues like this in the world - and the show wanted to honor the books. And whether we like it or not, this was a huge part of Clary’s storyline. 

The word that mostly came out of people’s mouths when describing Clary, was “annoying”. Yes, she was a little spoiled in the beginning, and keen focusing on finding her mother might have seem somewhat selfish, but she was really compassionate, brave and headstrong person that cared deeply for others and learned to widen her point of view. She was the one who was first given the greatest angelic powers and who knew how to invent runes. She learned a hard way and by the long journey that she has also the darker parts in herself. But like she said herself, she was afraid that she couldn’t ever be this person she used to be. She might have caused a serious trouble sometimes, but she always felt guilt and wanted to make things right. See her loved ones smiling again, being happy - even though she could not have that same happiness herself. And this was really emphasized in this last episode. She, and Magnus, brought downworlders and shadowhunters, who had fought against each other for centuries, together, united. She is someone who would sacrifice herself and her truth to save people. Her actions go way more far than “allowing Malec to have their wedding”. It's kind of sad that some people seem to notice her awesomeness just now, when she’s kind of gone. I guess it’s true: one really realizes what she or he has until its gone. She is not perfect, no one is. But we had much character developements and events with her, but some of us took them for granted. 

Even though losing her pains me, she still got her redeeming moment with Jonathan. That moment was really moving and soul-wrenching, and I don’t wonder at all why Luke said that they actually cried after that one. You could just see that Clary meant every word she said to him, even though she had to sacrifice him. The moment she got her wings… “Let me go.” “I will.” </3 I was not ready for that. And as if that wasn’t enough, it was clear that in that moment she knew she would lose everything else as well.

We got to see her with her mother again (kind of) – and in the same place where she died, which was both poetic and heartbreaking. She never got to say goodbye to her mother, so this was really touching. I am happy that Jocelyn’s actress was able to return for this. Even though in the end she was struggling being strong, she got to share her last moments and fights with almost everyone she loved and really go through her journey. I especially loved the moments between her and Simon and her and Magnus. Simon always knows what’s up with Clary, even if he did not completely see the context. She got to see how her “father” got his happy ending by being a shadowhunter and with Maryse, (even though she never got to work side by side with him :’( ). It’s upsetting how she only almost got Maryse as her kind- of-stepmother. They never got many scenes together, but I like that with Maryse Clary is the closest to telling the truth. She is able to see how his “godfather” and her “frenemy-brother” found love and proved that love still exists. And that she didn’t want to interrupt their dance.

Even though I will forever be sad that we didn’t see her and Izzy being parabatais together, it still may be possibility in the future, whether to our eyes or not. They really saved each other. I am also glad that Clary wasn’t showing any jealousy for Sizzy, but was clearly happy for them.

No matter how heartbreaking this all is, it’s also life. In one moment, you can have everything, but it all might be taken away in another. So one of the messages of this show really is: cherish the now. And even though Clary’s fate was more than unfair after everything good she did, the law was against her. Angels aren’t completely pure and saint, and those who have demon blood are not purely evil. That has been the continuing theme of the show and it’s reasonable that it still somewhat remains. She knew the risks and made decision. She saved everyone. And that’s really brave.

Jace and Clary… Jace’s words to her, the fact that he continues being absolutely honest to her.. her love confession.. the fact that Jace didn’t have time to say it back… her not being able to keep the kiss too long, because she knew that Jace would break down if he saw her not seeing them…their tears… Not being able to say the proper goodbye to Jace really shows how much he meant to her. Even though I was not the biggest fan of Clace, they grew in me and Kat and Dom overdid themselves in this episode, together and apart. Clary’s letter was truly beautiful. And to the people who say that Jace doing nothing to get Clary back is out of character, Simon is right. They both want her to be happy and might be afraid that telling her everything would upset her too much. But just like for Alec, for Jace falling in love deeply works only with one person, and it fucking hurts. You can see it by the way he acts, and he continues being her guardian angel. He still knew how important art used to be for her and came to support her mentally even though she could not see him. We got to see that even though she had changed outside and became this strong woman, still something was missing. And it’s really poetic how her past comes out through her art, just like the first time. Like the showmakers told us, this ending implies that love conquers all and she will become shadowhunter again – no matter how long it takes. Jace and Clary are able to reconnect and fall in love all over again in a world that – perhaps - is more peaceful now. Perhaps this is the “Angels’ way of forgiveness” – a new start. Ruelle’s song in the background tells it all to us. This does not decrease her character development – she has gone through her own struggles also in the life she remembers and I am sure that she would or will become even more awesome. And if there will be no spin off or renewal, we get to imagine our own kind of ending to them.

All being said, even if she wasn’t on screen as much as generally hoped, this was still Clary’s episode and her legacy will move on, whatever comes of her. She is talked among every character in the show and is never forgotten. That’s why, in my opinion being happy about Shadowhunter-cancellation or “ending of this shitshow” (as someone calls it) because of Clary’s fate is no use. Kat really did this character justice, has grown up with her and is hopefully on her way to brighter success. So those, who loved Kat and Clary from the start, keep supporting them and spreading their legacy. And those, who got into the train of their fans somewhat later or just now – it’s never too late to start.