jeanette

The insane intimacy of it all. Ty taking off his headphones willingly in an (assumingly) loud environment just because he wants Kit to know what he’s listening to. Ty, who never takes his headphones off for such reasons, Ty who has only ever put his headphones on one other person: Tavvy, when he didn’t want him to have to hear the violence going on around him.

And Kit getting to wear such a special piece of Ty. Holding his hands and helping him take them off, getting to have something so personal shared with him. Not To Mention Ty already wearing Kit’s jacket here. Do you think his heart flipped at the sight of Ty in his jacket? Do you think he closes his eyes when Ty puts the headphones on him so he can savor the moment. Do you think Ty’s hands stay on Kit’s even after they switched the headphones?

i’m never getting over this. how am i going to survive this scene?

“Belial” at the end of CHOT is very obviously written to be like his depiction in GOTSM. There’s quite a bit of repetition in language surrounding him, plus Jem identifies them as the same, to the point I imagine CC had GOTSM on hand as she wrote CHOT to ensure they matched

exhibit a:

(sidenote: interesting that he’s described at being shaped from clay since that’s how Adam and Lilith were created, aka the origins of humanity & being of the earth — doesn’t really apply to fallen angels you would think)

Belial in TLBOTW (2020) however does NOT match Belial in GOTSM (2018) & CHOT (2023). While it’s a fairly brief appearance, Sammuel puts emphasis on Belial being like he always is

exhibit b:

Here’s James’ description of meeting Belial the first time in CHOG for comparison (exhibit c);

Belial’s death and supposed replacement does not match with the lore established around Lilith and Sammael. Especially since Belial was killed by being stabbed thrice by Cortana, a man made sword which supposedly has a feather from Michael’s wing in the hilt. Comparatively, Sammael was killed after being hunted down by Michael himself & stabbed with Glorious and Lilith was destroyed by the Mark of Cain, which derives its power from God directly.

Only Jem and Sister Emilia have encountered him, and both times “Belial” uses Jem’s love from the Herondales. In CHOT it’s to pass along the message “he” is no longer interested in Tessa’s children & descendants and in GOTSM it’s to send Jem to find the lost Herondales (which given the circumstances of everything was definitely planned). Guess who are the main characters of TWP.

Jem’s hunt for the lost Herondales directly leading to the survival of the line + being told that Tessa’s descendants are ordinary mortals now leading to them forgetting their ancestry & lacking any concernment for what that might mean & how it should influence their actions. and now we have this new Ash snippet (exhibit d);

and an arc reader claims that it would be “illogical path” for Blackstairs to think about having kids in TLKOF specifically, which could just be because it’s super crazy busy but could also be because a direct descendant of a Prince of Hell having seven kids might have been a bad idea that should not be continued

New Belial claiming a bunch of titles & epithets that have never (as far I remember) been applied to Old Belial even vaguely. If anything they apply to Lucifer? Since he’s the oldest (according to Simon) & he refers to himself as a commander (vs other POH like Azazal, Asmodeus & Sammael being called lieutenant or generals)

exhibit e:

The whole thing kinda reeks of another demon taking advantage of Belial being sent to the void for the foreseeable future to assume his identity & use his relationship to the Herondales for their own gains. Especially if it is a more powerful demon like Lucifer who could prevent Belial from ever returning to this realm.

The scene being separated into a coda — bringing extra attention to it — despite the fact nothing happens (on the surface)

also just this quote (exhibit f:)

Kit: In a basement

Ty: I broke into his house and threatened him

I feel enlightened!

I think you are right about fantasy stakes. When I think of romance, at least in a Shadowhunter context, I think high stakes, high emotions, massive consequences and, usually, the absence of the luxury of time. Also, usually Magnus walks in on you at some point or another.

I do think of TWP as very romantic books. Part of focusing in so closely on the main four characters is to give those romances space and time. It allows for Kit and Ty to be on a desperate chase across Europe but occasionally have time for squabbling over whether licorice is disgusting (yes, yes it is) or you, know being terrified about the other person's safety (which I find romantic, though not domestic.)

If the question is just whether Kit and Ty ever do anything romantic, I do not know what terrible person would promise a romance between two characters and then never let them do anything romantic. Kit and Ty must reconnect after a bad split, but that in itself is a romantic process. Also, they are quite a bit older than they were in TDA so "I don't know, do I maybe want to kiss this person?" is more like "I desperately do want to kiss this person, but maybe they do not return the feeling."

Ash said, “Kit Herondale does not know what he has. It is power, yes, but it is also danger. There are dark forces that also desire it —“

“I’m actually pretty sure he knows that,” Dru said dryly.