hell in heels

isabelle lightwood. twenty. shadowhunter. alicante. ❝ i think, even when you heal, you’re never what you were before. ❞

[alecllightwood]

“Alright, everyone listen up! I need your full attention.” Alec spoke with conviction, his voice carrying through their group's playful chatter. Whilst most in attendance had continued their training and actively put it into practice during the war, there'd been no official meetings during that period, no solid rules or guidelines. The responsibility to organise the resulting fallout now lay with Alec. He had to step up, fix the shattered dynamics, reassign them all a new routine. It would certainly come with an abundance of eye rolls and sarcastic backtalk, but he felt far more prepared than before. A few words of reassurance from Izzy and Jace had attested to that. He was the leading Shadowhunter, and the guardians that stood in wait in front of him now were his responsibility. Once the conversation had lulled into silence, Alec straightened himself, beginning to pace along the training centre's flooring, his confidence rising as he noticed the gazes of his peers following his movements. "I thought the rebellion would bring an end to our guardian practices. I'm grateful to have been wrong. Many of us have found our way here without instruction from one another, and I find that to be no coincidence. But Alexandria doesn't belong to us, it belongs to downworlders. This means that our responsibilities haven't lessened. We have to be prepared to protect our remaining Moroi." He cast his eyes towards Adrian and Neville, but his mind also wandered to those still in Alicante. They weren't whole, yet. As pessimistic as he was, Alec still chose to believe that they'd reunite eventually. Meaning that they had to take this seriously now. "The pairings assigned to us before the rebellion were well balanced, so I see no reason to change them entirely. However, there are absences and additions that need to be accounted for. Some of us also have lost time to... dire circumstances." Alec pressed his lips together in contemplation before continuing, hoping his peers would understand his decisions, considering he'd spent so much time pondering them since the Steele's arrival. "Eddie, you did an excellent job protecting Adrian on the journey here, so that continue as is. Mason, the same compliment applies to you, but Neville has now joined us, so you can revert to your original practice." With a nod, he continued on, smiling in his sister's direction. "Izzy, you're still with Elijah. I'll trust you to keep him on task." After the conversation they'd had regarding the youngest guardian, Alec knew it'd be pointless attempting to pair Isabelle with anyone else. He didn't agree with it, especially considering Elijah would need to siphon Isabelle in order to perform, but he respected her decision. "Now, I understand that Benji and Jace would usually be assigned together, but Rose and Juliet have missed out the last few years. So for today, Benji, I ask you to assist me in catching Juliet up to speed with our new methods and regulations. Rose, I'll do the same for you. Jace will oversee our progress and report back to me once the sessions have concluded. Is everyone clear?"

[isabvllelightwood]

Not everyone would take today's gathering seriously, but it was an auspicious moment for the Lightwood family. She'd been attempting to remain professional, focused, but every time Alec made eye contact with her, she beamed at him, her pride shining through. After all they’d been through, after multiple crises of confidence, she was extremely pleased to see her big brother finally step up and command them all. This was everything he’d been working toward, everything he deserved. Even more, he’d listened to her this time, actually taken her stance into consideration instead of treating her like a child, and chosen to pair her with Eli.

Hearing their names, she managed to hold in a squeal of delight, but her inhale was sharp, and she was unable to stop the squeeze of her shoulders, a shiver of excitement. Before her brother could change his mind though, she attempted to downgrade her grin to a smile, and as Alec moved on, she reached out and grabbed Eli’s wrist, squeezing it once.

“Yay!” She announced her excitement the second they were dismissed, all but dragging Elijah away, not wanting to waste a second with him. Izzy loved training, and it had been years since they’d done so together. “I can’t believe he actually listened to me,” she gushed once they were inside their own pod. Her joy was obvious, but this was a partnership, and a moment later, she forced herself to slow down, take a breath, and meet his eye. “I’m happy. Are you happy?”

[julietblackwell]

[loisfreakinglane]

ultimate ship meme // declarations of love ↳ Nick Zhao & Lily Diaz (With Love)

[michellejwatson]

ALL AMERICAN 6.01 Things Done Changed

[usermurphy]

CLARY & ISABELLE 2.06, Iron Sisters

[boyd-stevens]

Community (2009—2015) 3.16: “Virtual Systems Analysis”

[legaciesladies]

[legaciesladies]

[legaciesladies]

[edisoncastile]

It wasn’t unusual for Adrian to be late to training, nor skip it entirely. It was, however, unusual for Eddie to not do a thing about it. When the Moroi wasn’t in his direct sight, he was typically wracked with anxiety, but ever since his breakdown with Mason a week or so earlier, he’d been desperately trying to work on boundaries. He realised now that boundaries would protect them both, but most importantly, protect Adrian, and Eddie couldn’t be guilty of crossing that professional line again or they’d both suffer the consequences. He thought he’d been doing the right thing, but he’d only gotten lost in the intensity. Misguided, lead by only instinct and no formal training, Eddie had put Adrian at risk. Now that he’d had some distance, some time alone, he saw it for the failure that it was. And he refused to do it again. Without any conversation, he’d put space between them, and so far, had maintained that distance successfully. It was just better that way.

Which was why, when Adrian showed up to training after all, Eddie didn’t immediately relax, like he might have before. Instead, his body tensed up entirely, jaw clamped with the sheer effort made to not look back in the Moroi’s direction again. He’d clocked the cigarette, seen the irritated expressions on everybody else’s faces, and had immediately been flooded with guilt. Adrian didn’t deserve this reception, and he was itching to intervene, to de-escalate. But he kept reminding himself that it wasn’t his place anymore to interrupt. Boundaries. Boundaries meant letting Adrian fight his own battles, from time to time. To deal with his own fallout. He could handle it.

It all seemed to be going relatively smoothly, Eddie letting out a breath he hadn’t realised he’d been holding when the cigarette was put out. There was certainly awkward tension, an obvious shift in mood that made Eddie feel like shit, but thankfully, Adrian had decided to play along. Or so he’d thought. Eddie’s eyes widened at the remark, not having expected it. He’d thought the hard part had been over, but tensions had been flared once more, now bordering on aggression. Worriedly, Eddie’s eyes flicked over to Benjamin, scoping out the reaction. Unfortunately, he’d been right to be concerned. Benji’s expression had gone from one of annoyance to sheer rage, his fists curling dangerously, and with the verbal confirmation that Adrian was harboring very real resentment toward Eddie himself, he realised silence was no longer an option. Not if he was to keep the peace, keep Adrian safe and the rest of the group placated.

Seeing Benji turn, Eddie shoved his guilt aside and quickly intervened, snapping. “— That’s enough, Adrian. Leave her alone.” Thankfully, this stopped Benji in his tracks. The man was still obviously rigid with anger, but Eddie didn’t want to see him pushed any further. He was their mentor for a reason, he was known as a god for a reason. He didn’t want to see him anywhere near Adrian when he was like this. Continuing on, desperate to defuse the situation, Eddie tried his best to ignore the deep sting Adrian’s final words had caused and made his tone soft this time, keeping his gaze focused on Benji despite addressing Adrian. The more tension he noticed in the mentor’s body, the more his own muscles responded accordingly, feeling protective. “You don’t have to do this, okay? Just - go.”

[benjaminsteele]

Once he’d helped Alec quiet down the gang for the morning briefing, a task made a lot easier without the presence of Rose and Adrian, Benji took his place back beside Juliet, still refusing to look in her direction. Unfortunately, Alec had decided to make their training partnership more permanent as the program developed, the Shadowhunter proud of their progress so far; and as dutiful as ever, neither had said a word against the idea. Neither had dared, because that meant explaining why the pairing didn’t work, and that wasn’t something either were ready to acknowledge. So, the cycle of torture continued, Benji’s devastation only growing the more interaction they shared. But despite himself, he knew it was better than no interaction at all.

Hands clasped behind his back, posture stiff, Benji appeared to listen to Alec’s every word, seemingly attentive. But in truth, he was working on his breathing, attempting to get himself into a meditative state, or as close to one as he could manage. He’d discovered a combination of faith and focus was the only way he could make it through his training sessions with her, but it took some time to completely surrender over to. Fortunately, he knew the briefing and expectations well, having worked with the Lightwoods to set the assignments in the first place, and could now wholly focus on lowering his respiratory rate. He was halfway through reciting a Russian prayer in his mind, feeling the slowness of his breath, when the smell of smoke hit his nostrils. Having dulled his senses, it took Benjamin a moment to make the connection, but Adrian’s smug voice dispelled any mystery.

Immediately, Benjamin’s jaw tightened, feeling the tension he’d just worked on draining away return to his muscles. If the Moroi had just slipped in quietly, actually shown some respect for the process for once in his life, perhaps the dhampir could have let things slide. But Adrian seemed intent on causing drama wherever he went. Already, Benji was planning on chewing him out, though he did muster enough patience to think his wording through first. Perhaps it was better left for the Lightwoods to deal with. The Moroi were his superiors, after all. But to everybody’s surprise, Juliet herself piped up.

As always, her voice sent electricity through him, the sound a reminder of her presence right beside him. He would’ve become consumed by the sensation had he not noticed the biting edge in her voice, an impatience that went beyond mere irritation. Although he felt the same upon hearing Adrian’s sarcasm, he felt concern for her, wondering what the source of her frustration was and how he could solve it. The answer should’ve been obvious, but he rarely spared a thought for himself, all protective instinct and dutiful follower. His frown grew, wondering what signs he’d missed, when Adrian provided the answer for him. Hearing his name, Benjamin’s head snapped up to look at the royal.

He almost couldn’t believe it. The elementalist seemed more alert than Benji had ever seen him. How could he have been so callous? Seeing the grin, the dhampir’s eyes narrowed, feeling the anger shoot through his limbs immediately, his fists following suit. Embarrassment and rage cycled his veins, heartache that the fracture between him and Juliet was so obvious to everyone else, fury that it had been dragged out into the limelight without either of their permissions. Suddenly, nothing seemed more important than wiping the grin off the Moroi’s face. He took a step in the man’s direction, only for Eddie to quickly intervene. Right then, respect for his fellow dhampir was the one sole thing stopping Benji from smashing Adrian’s face in. Eddie was his guardian, and he’d done the right thing by de-escalating. Benji continued to battle with reason, fingers aching with how tightly they were curled, but he attempted to breathe. He could come back from this, pull himself back from the knife’s edge, so long as the Moroi behaved. But Eddie had given him too easy of an out.

“— No,” Benji interrupted immediately, the edge in his voice dangerous. “He should stay.” If the man weren’t a Moroi, he would’ve made it an order, but unfortunately, he had no real jurisdiction. Still, he wouldn’t be letting him off that easily, not after he’d taken aim at Juliet, had made their issues so public. Only, this time his voice had lost its malice, replaced by condescension. Two could play at this game. “I mean, you’ve finally shown up. You’ve come here to work, haven’t you? To put in some actual effort? To show your guardian some respect? It’s a good thing.” His smirk was suppressed, but barely, his eyes not leaving the Moroi’s. “A sign of progress. I mean, I can’t recall the last time I’ve ever seen you sober. Seems like we’re all finally getting to meet the real Adrian Ivashkov.”

[masonashford]

Adrian’s tardy entrance, and the attitude that coincided along with it, came as no surprise to Mason. They’d spent a long reach of time in close proximity, so he arguably knew Adrian better than anyone else in the room now; discounting Eddie, of course. They weren’t exactly close, but he’d learned to dismiss the unlikeable behaviours, if only for the sake of his work and his best friend. Clearly not everyone in their circle had reached that point, and tensions in the room quickly arose at Adrian’s inability to keep his mouth shut. Juliet may have been the initial target, but as Mason’s eyes scanned the room, he realised Benji’s reaction was the strongest. Instinctually, he stepped out of his initial position, moving to put himself in front of Adrian, instead. The blonde was certainly out of line, but those ingrained guardian duties hadn’t dismissed themselves, and Mason was suddenly arced up, preparing for the worst. Irritating or not, that was still his Moroi to protect. This wasn’t a test he wanted to fail.

Noticing Eddie exhibit a similar stance to himself, Mason tried to meet his eye, a pleading look in his expression. He was more than willing to fight for his best friend, but going up against Benji was a ridiculous notion. He’d wipe the floor with both of them. He only hoped it wouldn’t reach that point, and that the tension could be diffused in time. Eddie intervened with his first attempt, but Benji didn’t take the bait, the verbal damage had already been inflicted, and their mentor began to combat it with his own. “Alright, easy —” Mason’s voice was drowned out, clearly not being registered by either party.

At a loss, Mason could do nothing but wait for Benji to finish, and once he had, silence descended over the room. He was hoping it would goad Adrian into leaving, but as Mason glanced back at his former charge, he knew instantly what the outcome would be. He couldn’t take anyone physically, but he’d never backed down from a fight where words were the ammunition. The tell tale signs of excessive spirit use were all over Adrian, too. The longer Mason stared, the more of it he saw. The darkened eyes, the twitching, the expression that flickered between here and a plain no one else could see. “Eddie…” Mason reached over, nudging his best friend, trying to get him to redirect his attention. He was so focused on Benji, on protecting, he’d fell behind on spotting it. “He’s slipping. You should get him out of —” his voice again was cut off, Adrian already brushing past the duo, clearly having his next reply loaded. This wasn’t going to end well. “Adrian. Don’t. Leave it.”

[adrianivashkv]

Hearing Eddie speak up against him only expanded upon the negative emotions Adrian was already feeling, so he disregarded any rational thought that told him it was coming from a place of protection, and not beratement. They’d been too distant for him to take the response in a positive light, only seeing the act as something that put more space between them. Space he hated. But it was Benjamin who twisted the knife. For a second time, he was doubting Adrian’s respect and care for Eddie, and making a mockery of his sobriety. The moroi’s eyes darkened, and his mind suddenly became a battle of will and spirit, one which Adrian was clearly losing. He didn’t even hear Mason as he moved around him, gaze locked in Benjamin’s direction.

“Oh, I’m the real Adrian Ivashkov either way. Sober or not, I’m honest. The same can’t be said for you. You see, Benjamin, the upside of my extended sobriety is that I have access to my magic. I can see your aura, and what a picture it paints,” Adrian smirked, now focusing on the sea of colours surrounding them all. “Don’t worry, you’re not the only one. I’ve seen less masking at a masquerade ball. Even those closest to me are guilty of it. Like my guardian,” he started, pointing in Eddie’s direction. “You tell me to go. You pretend you don’t want me around anymore unless it’s official, that what we had was wrong. But you look at me, and the space around you bleeds purple,” his tone become unstable, flickering between poetic and angry, the most obvious sign of excessive spirit use. His sessions with Wanda, whilst precautions had been taken, were clearly making him ill. With no Eddie to balance him, he was slipping. If anyone tried to stop him, he didn’t acknowledge them, continuing on with disregard.

“Jace, you hide behind bravado and confidence, but you’re as damaged as the rest of us. Baby Steele, pretending you could be the perfect guardian, when you lack the most basic form of discipline all you dhampirs were raised with — emotional control. Jules, you hate the system as much as I do, with valid reason, and you continue to show up here and play dutiful, why? What does that do for you beside further your pain?” Adrian’s fingers twitched, so he clenched his hands, fingers scratching along his palms. He’d spent a long time watching his friends, trying to understand them, and whilst he couldn’t be certain he was completely correct, he felt as though he was close enough. He’d always been an excellent judge of character. “Alec, I don’t know what your deal is. But it’s something. Your sister is the only one who’s colour doesn’t betray her,” he muttered, glancing at Isabelle with a temporary fondness. “Mason too, most of the time. At least he tells me hates me to my face, instead of hiding. I’m not the one who isn’t being real here.”

“Which brings me back around to you, Benjamin. The perfect role model, the most resolved guardian. But your head doesn’t align with your heart, does it? You’ve sworn yourself to a way of life that punishes the two people closest to you. Your brother is a genetic mistake and your lover is a mortal enemy of your species. I mean, no offense,” he said, shrugging apologetically in Juliet and Eli’s direction. “You know I don’t care. But he should. If our elders showed up here tomorrow, would he throw himself in front of you?” Adrian paused for thought, but it was the smallest of moments. “Maybe, actually. I know he has no issue with shoving royalty, considering how eager he was to push me up against the wall in Barcelo. I wonder if God heard the confession for that one, let alone the rest of you.” It was a cheap shot, but Adrian had long since surpassed rationality. His temple began to ache, and he wiped over his face, trying to brush the intensity off.

“Rose was right about all of this. This whole idea is an empty fucking oath,” he quietened, finally, wondering who’d come for him first. At least if it was Benjamin, a punch could knock him straight into the hospital, where the painkillers would be easily accessible. If Eddie and Mason would even let that happen. Now that Adrian had stepped back, he noticed how tense their postures were, always ready to protect despite themselves. He didn’t want it, it was only furthering their problems, and his own confusion. “We aren’t even supposed to love unless they tell us to, but we do anyway. We betray ourselves for a broken system. Enough’s enough. No more… we’re going to end up scared and confused. No. More,” Fragments of his argument with Eddie spilled over into the present, and soon enough, Adrian’s rambling became incomprehensible, only for himself.

[elijahsteele]

Eli was already feeling antsy before Adrian had even entered the scene. He hadn’t siphoned in longer than usual, and his body was desperate for the energy conversion, like a feeder waiting for their next fix. Luckily, it was a feeling he’d become accustomed to, and Eli was managing to keep the irritability in check with the management tactics he and Benji had spent years perfecting. That was, until, Adrian started talking. As soon as his older brother’s relationship was mentioned, Eli switched from a controlled demeanour to something more panicked, his back tensing up. He was desperate to rise up in Benji’s defence, but the conversation was carried by voices much louder than his own.

It only continued to worsen with further involvement, and Eli felt the power in the room charge up. He was drawn directly to Adrian, and he could practically see the hum of magic filter back in as the effects of the Moroi’s cigarette wore off. This was spirit. Most of it, anyway; Eli imagined the resentment would’ve been there regardless, considering how it’d ended at Barcelo. Unsure of his next move, of whether or not he should call it out, the dhampir remained still and silent, but prepared. If this became physical, he’d be beside Benji in an instant. Confrontation was a trigger from him, but he was still trained in dealing with it, and could swallow down the intensity of his own emotion temporarily if it meant protecting his family. Nothing was more important.

For a moment, Eli considered taking Isabelle’s hand to regain stability, his stress rising as the back and forth played out, hating how targeted Benji had become. The comments about himself stung, but were easily dismissible. The ones aimed at the person he loved the most were not, and as the anger pressed at him in retaliation, he dismissed the idea of falling in line with his charge. He didn’t want to drain some of her power by mistake, or prove Adrian right. It was already blindingly obvious without the magical aura confirmation that he was in love with her, and Adrian hardly needed be reminded of further ammunition.

As soon as the words genetic mistake were uttered, Eli knew he finally had to step in. He himself wasn’t overly bothered, Adrian had already made it apparent he saw Eli as an equal, but it was certain to make Benji furious; and that was the point. He’d already noticed the way Eddie was staring his brother out, ready for the first space closure in case he needed to defend. Which is why he had to be fast. Benji could handle any altercation with ease, deeming fighting even more pointless. They shouldn’t even be arguing when all they had was eachother. Eli darted forward, his hand gently grasping Benji’s shoulder from behind. “Don’t. It’s not his fault. Well, kind of. The spirit’s all over him. He feels like a fucking magnet to me,” he was itching to drain it, and that was obvious by the desperation in his tone. “Whatever it is, don’t react to it. It’s making him worse. And you know how you’ll feel after, if you do this,” Eli muttered, gesturing to Benji’s still clenched fists. “It’s not worth it.”

Adrian continued to ramble, and Eli glanced at him in confusion, no longer understanding his point. He was also interfering, purposely or not. “Stop being a prick! I’m trying to help you.” He now spoke to more than just his brother, voice carrying across the room. He’d certainly been heard, now, because the Moroi paused in his surprise. “You’ve been using spirit. Too much. I can feel it. Let me take some of it from you, then maybe you’ll stop picking fights you need Eddie to finish.” Eli sighed, and softened his tone. “It’s obviously hurting you. If I drain some of it, it won’t be so bad. You won’t need to act like this, and this doesn’t need to get any worse.” Eli’s gaze then flickered between Eddie and Benji, as if asking for permission. “I can handle it.”

[isabvllelightwood]

As usual, Izzy had arrived to training earlier than was required, wanting Alec to feel supported. She set about warming up, waiting for the others to arrive. Though as they filtered in, it seemed she was only one of few who was actually keen to train. Or perhaps the only one. They still showed up, dutiful and ready, but the energy seemed low, and Izzy knew she’d end up overcompensating for that, wanting to make sure her brother’s efforts weren’t wasted and that everybody felt supported. Times were different, and she’d realised pretty quickly it was a lot tougher outside of their normal training environment, away from the home they knew so well. They were no longer under the watchful eye of generations of leaders. They were fumbling through it on their own, re-learning old patterns and going through the motions all while trying to work out the purpose. Why were they bothering at all? It was hard, she knew, but she was willing to put in the effort, especially now that the Steele’s had joined them. Their traditions were still important, their jobs were still important, and she trusted in that more than ever now that Eli was back by her side. She loved training with him, discovering more about their dynamic, learning things she never knew. They were more in tune with each other than they’d ever had a chance to be before and it made her feel peaceful. It was a secure kind of peace, knowing someone was always looking out for you.

The group’s energy only got worse when Adrian arrived. Again, Izzy might’ve been the only one happy to see him, which frankly surprised her, considering he was usually on great terms with Eddie, and was friendly with Juliet. She wasn’t sure why, but everything felt off. There was something noticeably different about Adrian, the way he carried himself, yet she wasn’t aware enough of his condition to realise what it was. It didn’t seem like his typical tipsy behaviour, though. If she’d known, she’d have tried to help before things escalated any further. To her great surprise, Juliet was the first one to break the awkward silence, addressing the man’s behaviour. From there, everything became a total mess. Alec lost control of the room completely, and his second-in-charge, Benji, was one of the main perpetrators.

Izzy continually scanned the room, trying to stay on top of the unfolding argument so that she could find a way to diffuse it, but it moved too quickly for her to keep up. Or rather, it went beyond her understanding, accusations of things she’d never noticed before coming to light. Juliet and Benji’s dynamic was hardly surprising. It was a dynamic she’d been quietly rooting for for years, having encouraged Alec herself to pair them together, if only to force them to face their feelings. Besides, Elijah had, unwillingly, always been in the middle of them, and Izzy believed he deserved better than that. Adrian and Eddie, however, was a total shock. She knew they were close, but apparently it went a lot deeper than she’d ever noticed, too wrapped up in her own relationships to pick it for herself. She was itching to know more, equal parts curious and supportive, but now was clearly not the time.

Unfortunately, Adrian’s attitude only seemed to worsen, the man stumbling as he turned to accuse the entire group, pulling skeletons out of closets. She loved him but his behaviour shocked her, not sure anyone there truly deserved it. She knew he was upset, and clearly struggling with a lot of things, but they were all in this together. They didn’t need more division.

The digs at both of her brothers deeply bothered her, always the first one to defend them, and she pressed her lips together, arms folding over her chest. She’d gone from surprised to deeply unimpressed, joining the rest of the group’s stance. Sure, Adrian had been provoked, but now he was crossing the line. Hearing Eli being called a ‘genetic mistake’ made her gasp, a quiet inhalation, causing her to drop her arms. “Adrian!” She chided, willing him to stop. “That’s enough.” But the Moroi wasn’t done, getting one last shot at Benji in. She looked over at him, eyes wide. She’d never seen the guardian so furious. He was always the perfect picture of stoicism, of collected and cool, but it had clearly only been the calm before the storm. She wasn’t sure she could intervene now, wasn’t sure what she could even do to coax him back from doing something he’d regret. She’d never seen him like this, never seen any of them this upset. Distressed, she looked to her big brother, wondering what he could do as a leader. Was there even a solution?

Eli seemed to think so. Her guardian stepped forward, thankfully working on diffusing Benji. The man was still, dangerously still, but perhaps that meant it was working. Izzy was immensely grateful for it until she heard Elijah’s proposal. Again, her eyes went wide, and she waited for the cries of reason, telling him no. Only they never came, as if everyone was trapped in some kind of daze. Shaking her head, Izzy stepped in, taking on the responsibility herself instead, hoping Eli would listen to her.

She didn’t understand spirit use, having only discovered the element wasn’t just a thing of lore when they’d reunited with Adrian. But considering the darkness in the Moroi’s expression, it didn’t seem safe. “Eli… I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Her voice was gentle, a harsh comparison to everyone else’s behaviour thus far. She reached for him just as he had for Benji, a hand resting on his arm. “We don’t even know if it’d work, and if it did, it might harm you. I know he’s really hurting and you just want to help, but there has to be another way. A way that doesn’t mean endangering anyone else.” She met his eye, shaking her head once, resolute. “Don’t do this.”

[lizziesaltzmancentral]

I should probably go and explain to everyone why I’m not really dead.

LEGACIES, S02E16 Facing Darkness Is Kinda My Thing

[indie-navarrete]

ABOUT ME: LANA LANG QUOTE(S) ╰┈➤ ( 2 / ∞ ) S01 E19: "Crush"

[jccelightwood]

isabvllelightwood​:

“I know, right?” She replied distractedly, humming at her reflection. The look was missing lipstick, but the rest was perfection. Suddenly, she whirled back around to face him, lifting a hand to blow him a kiss. “But thank you.”

“I have, too many times.” Izzy rolled her eyes at the typical Jace comment, but truthfully, she envied him. She knew she was attractive, that much was obvious, but to feel so consistently confident was something her and Alec couldn’t hope to attain. Insecurities would always plague her heart. Grinning because he’d agreed to her suggestion, Izzy grabbed her heels and sat down on the bed, now content with their preparations. “Oh, he’s coming. I left him not too long ago. If he’s not in the outfit we picked in the next five minutes, I’m going to kick him down the stairs,” she warned, considerably serious. Sighing in contentment, Izzy rose to her feet as Jace left the room, heading toward the mirror to apply lipstick. No outfit of hers was complete without it.

It didn’t take long for her brother to return, and she grinned at him in the reflection. “Oh, yes, big brother, you look hot!”

“He is?” Jace raised his eyebrows in surprise, wondering how she’d managed to convince Alec to attend a party. Izzy had always been persuasive, but Alec’s stubborn nature often won out, considering her flirtatious manipulation wasn’t a tactic she could use on her siblings. “You’ll have to teach me your powerful ways. I couldn’t even convince him to buy me a beer the other day.” He was uptight for reasons they both understood, but Alexandria had changed the rules. Alec needed to change with them, and learn how to have fun, even if it was only once in a blue moon.

When Jace returned, he was grinning with confidence, having partnered his white button up with some grey wash ripped jeans and black loafers. It wasn’t something he’d have typically worn in the Capitol, considering how tight the uniform regulations had been, but he was inspired by the self expression. It felt good. “I know, right?” He replied to Izzy’s compliment, mimicking her earlier statement. As he pulled down his sleeves, he noticed how bare his hands looked, wondering if it was time he made a few changes himself, now they had the freedom to do so. “’You got any black nail polish?” 

[isabvllelightwood]

"He is," she grinned in confirmation, waggling her eyebrows in suspense. "It wasn't that hard. You have to learn to play the long game, Jace. Make a deal. He thinks he's going to work, do his duty, protect the kids. But he's wrong." She smirked, shrugging. "He'll have a beer in his hand in no time."

Isabelle was aware he was teasing, but she grinned in response, her excitement building now that both her elder brothers were getting into the mood. It had been a long time since she'd seen Jace wear anything other than black. She actually elicited a squeal at his question, clapping her hands in delight and setting to work searching for it. "Of course I do! I love this idea. Maybe I can get Alec on board, too?" She doubted it, but perhaps some alcohol would change his mind. Finding her collection of little bottles, she handed him the black, genuinely beaming. "Thank you. For doing this with me. We deserve this, right? A night off?"

[wanmaximoff]

“I believe you would have. It was peaceful, beautiful. It was about love, and music… and connection. None of z’his constant fighting, worrying about what comes next,” Wanda admitted, surprised by her own honesty; but Izzy felt easy to confide in. The girl didn’t have a pre-judgement about her, they were strangers forming a friendship. There was nothing to apologise for, no witnessed mistakes. All they had to do was talk. “Oh, so you know z'he feeling well. You have a brother?” 

“I’m sure he’d like to meet you too, even if he wouldn’t admit it,” Wanda smiled at the thought, making a note to introduce them when Pietro was feeling better. “I… do,” she nodded, swallowing the lump that formed in her throat at the mention of her abilities. It hadn’t been that long since she’d publicly used them, drawing all the wrong attention. She’d hurt people. Wanda didn’t want to taint Isabelle’s view of her, but the girl would find out eventually. People gossiped, especially about what scared them. “I can manipulate probabilities, control energies — I don’t fully understand it, yet. But it’s powerful. I try not to use z’hem too much, but sometimes I can’t help it. I’m working on it.” 

[isabvllelightwood]

Much to her own surprise, Izzy found herself quite moved by the description, eyes wide, softened with emotion. It was hard to pinpoint one — she was touched by the woman's honesty, considering they'd really only just met. And she was wistful, for the life Wanda had lost, and for the life she herself had never been allowed to experience. Izzy had never been one for jealousy; despite her upbringing, she'd always worked hard to keep up, went after the things she wanted, and she got them. But the world Wanda spoke of was so far from anything she'd ever known, she hadn't realised it was even something she could want. Their entire lives had been fighting and preparing for whatever came next. They'd been told that was their responsibility, to maintain peace. But what had come of it? Izzy blinked, taken aback, and then, on instinct, she reached out to squeeze Wanda's hand. "I'm really sorry you had to lose that, Wanda. It sounds beautiful. I don't have a musical bone in my body," she admitted, momentarily breaking the somber mood. "But I hope I get to experience something like that one day."

"Oh, I do," Izzy laughed. "I have three. It's a fulltime job. And if it makes you feel any better, none of mine would admit it either. Well, Max wouldn't be able to hide his smile because he's nine, but he still wouldn't say it. Boys," she shrugged. She could read her brothers like a book, but like most men, they hardly wore their hearts on their sleeve. Only Elijah had ever broken that mold, the sudden thought of him sending a regretful pang through her chest.

Turning her focus to Wanda, Isabelle noticed the way she began to avoid eye contact, her obvious discomfort. She wondered if that was due to the ability itself, or because Izzy had probed her about it. The description sounded like a strange form of spirit, reminiscent of compulsion, but she couldn't be sure. Regardless, it certainly sounded powerful, which always lead to fear and misunderstanding, even from the owner. Perhaps it was because he was now on her mind, but again, Izzy thought of Eli, of his ability to siphon and how he'd been forced to keep it under wraps because of their laws. Finally, Izzy nodded. "I get it. I had a friend, have, who has a powerful ability like that. He's never allowed to practice with it, or tell anyone, really. It's not allowed, back home. But keeping all that power in... I think it just comes out in other ways. Destructive ways. His moods can be all over the place, he struggles to hide it, and there's not much that can balance him back out. I don't know if it's like that for you, but I've always wondered what it'd be like for him if he didn't have to keep it all in. Here, you don't have to. Maybe you should use them. Work them out. Then they'll become less scary."

[hcnnamarin]

isabvllelightwood​:

Izzy snorted, knowing she’d experienced that many times herself. “Even my youngest brother carries on like that. You sound like you have some yourself? Obviously, not blood relations,” she added, remembering what Hanna had told her about her family.

Izzy thanked her upon receiving the basket, grabbing a few baking supplies herself. The boys claimed to hate her cooking, but she’d keep trying anyway, as it served as a great distraction. She smiled when Hanna spoke, glad she had a supportive setup. “That sounds cute. Are you and your mom close?” Eyebrows raising at the second part, Izzy stopped where she stood, holding out a hand to grasp Hanna’s arm. “Your ‘whatever he is’? Okay, spill. Who is this mystery man?”

“Then there’s no hope for him,” Hanna teased, before nodding in answer to her question. “I have a few guy friends that are close enough to consider family, they act like my brothers. I mean, not all of them can get man flu, ‘cause they’re werewolves, but the ones that do don’t shut up about it.” Stiles. “What about you? How many siblings do you have?”

“We are.” Hanna was closer to her mother than anyone, and although it’d been painful leaving the rebellion, she’d not once regretted her decision for taking the time out to find Ashley. They’d been inseparable ever since, and she couldn’t imagine it any other way. She was just about to pick up some flour for herself when Izzy questioned her about Jesse, and her smile turned into a shy smirk as she met the brunette’s eye. “His name’s Jesse. We were friends for a really long time, and then it just… happened. Something clicked, when we were in the middle of the Capitol fight. It was really weird, in a good way. But yeah, ever since we got here it’s been —” intense, distracting, wonderful. “Different. Good different. But we haven’t really spoken about it.” She wondered if that would change, or if they’d simply continue as they were. Either way, she was beyond grateful for him, for what they had. “It’s like I took one little step in and suddenly I was on my ass.” 

[isabvllelightwood]

"Hopefully he ends up taking after his only sister, but I'm pretty outnumbered," she sighed, pairing it with an affectionate eye roll universally understood by siblings. "Werewolves?" Izzy questioned the response without actually thinking, immediately feeling embarrassed by her blatant surprise. Unfortunately, a few weeks amongst the Rebels hadn't undone a lifetime of teachings that told her their kind was superior, and the rest were to be hunted. She was considerably further along than most of her family members already in terms of progressive thinking, but she still slipped up. It was just a matter of correcting course, despite what the Elders wanted. Izzy had been amazed by what the Rebels had been capable of when they'd worked together. She now wanted their generation to be better, to be more like them.

"Sorry," she shook her head, cheeks flushed. "I didn't mean to sound horrified. That's our upbringing talking. All the wolves I've met here so far are lovely, nothing like what we were told." She smiled in apology, but her expression showed regret, staring at the shelves. "It makes me sad, realising how much we couldn't see. Most of Alicante will never see." With a sigh, Izzy shook it off, accepting it as a point of learning. "I've got three brothers. Two older, one younger, and all of them as annoying and beautiful as each other."

This was their first time meeting, but Izzy could still tell from Hanna's expression alone that she was telling the truth. "Good," she smiled, though it didn't last long, thinking of her own mother. What she wouldn't give to remove the rift between parent and children, to have them all understand each other.

Grateful they could move on to more thrilling topics, Izzy's smile widened, noticing the blonde's coyness immediately. "Oh my god, this is a 'friends to lovers' situation? I'm obsessed with this," she gasped as they moved down the aisle. "That sounds so romantic and so.. cinematic," she commented, unable to think of a better word. "All the fighting around you, the drama and the hope. I can totally see how things clicked. That day was total chaos." Reading in between the lines, it sounded like love, but she wouldn't put the words in Hanna's mouth. It wasn't her place. "I'll bet. Well, I'm all for jumping in the deep end and not overthinking it. I've never.. had that with someone personally, but I know it's not something you can see coming. You can't time it or plan it, it just happens. And seeing as he's already moved in, well.. to me, it sounds like he's all in. Men are simple like that. But I get wanting a conversation," she nodded encouragingly, reaching out to squeeze the girl's arm. "You'll find the right time."

[nephilimdaily]

[namtan]