#ask rune

hi! i haven’t figured out what tsukasa’s aesthetic will be yet, im sure they’ll have similar tastes but i don’t want them to be exactlyy the same.

(Read on AO3)

Cristina knows the rules of the Unseelie Court are different than the ones she's used to living and abiding by. They're harsher and more unforgiving - for beings so reliant on tricks and subtle wordings, they lack the good-natured trait of sympathy when wronged.

She spends more and more time in the Unseelie realm, despite not truly belonging there, because she does belong with Mark and Kieran. It's a delicate line to walk for a Nephilim. Often times she will come and go from the cabin they share without any interaction with the other fey. Everyone knows who she is and that she isn't to be touched.

Other Nephilim aren't so lucky, especially when they trespass into the Unseelie realm uninvited.

When there's a knock on the door it's Kieran who goes to answer. There's a hushed conversation, the sound of a scuffle, and then the door closes again. When Kieran returns to her he's no longer wearing the soft, relaxed smile he had minutes before when they lay side by side in bed. Cristina knows this look, and she despises it.

The expression on Kieran's face now is one of reassigned regret, of a duty he carries out in part obligation, part genuine attempt to do good. Cristina isn't naive enough to think that means he won't have to make difficult decisions, ones she doesn't understand or agree with.

“Keep your hands over your ears, do you hear me? Even when the noises stop. Don’t listen.”

Kieran's instructions bring a chill through Cristina. She's about to question why when Mark enters the room with a quick, silent nod to Kieran before taking his place in the bed beside Cristina.

She feels his arms wrap around her, pulling her head down into his chest. "I'm so sorry you have to be here for this," he says.

"For what?" Cristina asks, but the anguished scream that reaches her from outside is all the answer she needs. She brings her hands up to her ears, pressing down into the pillow to help muffle the cries for mercy.

They must deserve this, whoever they are, whatever they've done. They must, because it takes a lot for Kieran to cave to the pressure of committing such acts of punishment.

Of torture.

Mark holds her tighter, one hand combing through her hair with his fingers. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he repeats.

She's a Nephilim. She's no stranger to pain or the danger of being caught on a mission. She understands, as much as she wishes she didn't. Maybe that's just another thing Mark's sorry about - the fact that she does understand. That she isn't innocent enough for this to be enough to send her fleeing the other direction.

Love is strange that way. You rationalize away now than you normally would. You accept things you wouldn't from any other person. It's enough to know that they have no real choice.

It's enough to know that they could never do it to you.

Every so often Cristina thinks the screaming is over, only to be proven wrong the moment she moves her hands away from her ears.

Eventually, the screams stop. The front door opens and closes, and then the quiet sobs begin. Cristina wonders if these are the sounds Kieran doesn't want her to hear the most.

When he finally comes back to bed she can feel the weight of the night on him. Turning, she wraps her arms around him, giving a tight squeeze filled with as much comfort and reassurance she can manage. She feels his muscles relax under her touch, his breathing slow and stabilize.

"I'm sorry," she whispers, echoing Mark's words from earlier. "I'm so sorry."

I loved it!! It’s so good to see other alternatives for what happened. The one from the show destroys me until now. I love Alec with all my heart, but I want to punch him for that stupid decision. Fortunately, everything ended well.

Thank you again for writing! <3

hope things go fine for you, you always have my best wishes. since you said you're open to anything, maybe do you feel like to write more waywood? you'll have my enthusiasm and joy supporting you 😆

from the prompt list you posted, some i felt that waywood could go for were 4, 5, 7, 22, 47, 189 and 193. of course, you should only write what you feel like writing ☺️

(Read on AO3)

People always say that children can be cruel, but they often overlook the fact that they take after the equally heartless adults who raise them.

It was one thing when the other students taunted Robert for his family history - whenever he does too well, or too poorly, it’s either ‘good to know you’re smarter than a worm’ or ‘what did you expect from a Lightworm?’. Robert was used to that. No matter how far his family came, no matter how much distance they put between themselves and Benedict’s legacy, it never seemed to be enough.

It was another thing to have one of the Institute’s Professors step in to break up a fight and say “Why am I not surprised to find a Lightwood at the heart of another problem?” when Robert had done nothing wrong. He’d never done anything wrong. He’d done nothing but his best to keep turning his family name into something positive, something to be proud of. It was never enough. He was never enough.

And the one person who thought Robert was enough, Robert pushed away.

Robert didn’t wait for the Professor to finish before he turned, started running, and didn’t look back.

Robert hadn’t spoken to Michael in days now… or was it weeks? And yet in this moment, getting more lost by the second as he made his way through the pitch-black forest, everything inside of him screamed for Michael’s company.

Robert tripped over a root, or a rock and fell hard to the ground below. He felt a cut across his knee, the pain of a twisted muscle in his wrist, and even though he could get up if he wanted to he chose not to. He sat there, on the cold, hard ground, and his heart, mind, and soul all yearned for Michael to be by his side.

He didn’t know how long he sat there. He thought he may just stay on the ground forever, honestly. The next thing Robert knew, he heard the crunching of branches approaching, and then Michael was by his side.

“You’re hurt,” Michael said, reaching down for Robert. It wasn’t a question.

“Why are you here?” Robert asked, pulling his arm away from Michael’s reach and immediately regretting the action as a new sting of pain traveled from his wrist up the length of his arm.

“You’re hurt,” Michael repeated.

“The last time we spoke…” Robert trailed off.

“You were a proper asshole,” Michael confirmed, already pulling out his stele.

“Then why are you here?” Robert repeated.

“Because I could feel you out here, Robert. Hurting. Calling for me through our bond, whether you meant to or not. We’re parabatai…” Michael hesitated, but only for a second before pushing forward. “...and I love you. I told you that I’d never leave you; I’m not going anywhere.”

Michael held his stele over Robert’s healing rune, looking at Robert expectantly. Even after all this, he wanted to respect any boundaries Robert might set. Robert nodded slowly, closing his eyes against the comforting sensation of his parabatai activating his rune spread through him.

He didn’t know what to say. He wasn’t sure what he could say that would excuse his past actions, or show Michael the sort of appreciation he deserved for staying even now. Why should Michael bother to come all the way out here and help the person who kept trying to push him away?

But Michael was his Parabatai, and Robert should’ve known better than to think he’d have to say anything at all. In the silence that fell between them, Michael seemed to read his mind.

“I will always choose you, Robert. Even if you won’t always choose me.”

Robert didn’t deserve Michael, didn't deserve his reassurance and comfort... but just as Michael chose to be here, Robert could choose to accept it. 

(Read on AO3) "I'm going to tell them." 

Thomas says the words with a resolute tone and a small nod of his head. Thomas is sitting on the other side of the sofa, a notebook in front of him that’s meant to be filled with notes but looks far too empty for how long they’ve been sitting there. 

"Tell who what?" Alistair asks, looking up from his book with a cocked eyebrow. Despite Thomas making his declaration as if giving an answer to end a conversation, it's been silent between them for nearly half an hour. Alastair could tell that there's something on Thomas' mind but he's found that if he doesn't push it, Thomas is more likely to open up on his own.  

"Everyone everything," Thomas replies unhelpfully.  

Alastair purses his lips together, wondering if Thomas is being intentionally obtuse simply to mess with him. 

"About us, I mean," Thomas adds quickly at the sight of Alastair's expression.  

Alastair wonders where this is coming from all of a sudden.  Not that he isn't thrilled at the idea,  but… well, he knows Thomas' friends and he can't say he's eager to see their reactions.  

"Why the sudden change of heart?" 

"Because you've changed my heart." 

It's such a simple, sincere reply yet it sends Alastair's heartbeat racing with a giddiness he'd deny until his dying day.  

"And your friends?" Alastair can't help but ask.  

"They'll understand. They'll come around eventually.  And if they don't…" Thomas' newfound resolve waivers for the first time. He swallows thickly but pushes through without much hesitation. "... if they don't, then that's their loss. I love you, Alastair, and I want everyone to know it, even if it's you and me against the world." 

Alastair is so moved by that simple sentiment that he blinks a few times in rapid succession to make sure there’s no danger of unexpected tears being shed. 

“Every time I think I have you figured out, you surprise me in the best of ways,” Alastair says, placing his book down on the table in front of him. He shifts over to sit closer to Thomas, bringing a hand up to cup the side of Thomas’ face before kissing him the best he can through the impossibly large smile on his face. 

33. “Keep your hands over your ears, do you hear me? Even when the noises stop. Don’t listen.”

For Malec?;)

Have a great day!!

Don't Look Back (Read on AO3)

Alec knows it’s his fault they’re here in the first place. He got cocky, or maybe careless… no, careless isn’t the right word. Reckless, but reckless in the face of trying to save the man he loves. He should’ve trusted that Magnus could handle himself, and should’ve listened when Magnus told him to run.

Now Alec stands within a cage of magical making, one he cannot escape unless the warlock who created it either takes down the walls or dies. Magnus stands on the other side, helpless to break it. Alec left himself an easy target, and now he’s being used as the one bait Magnus can’t walk away from.

“Magnus, please. Just get out of here and save yourself.” There are sounds from down the hallway, voices and footsteps, and flashes of magic that Alec knows won’t be good for either of them. “I’ll be fine.” “You’ll be dead,” Magnus says, his tone a bone-chilling mixture of casual and cruel. “And I can’t have that.”

“Magnus, I-”

“Shhh,” Magnus hushes sharply. “Alexander, I need you to listen to me. Close your eyes, and keep your hands over your ears, do you hear me? Even when the noises stop. Don’t listen.”

“Magnus, what are you going to do?” Alec asks.

“What I need to,” Magnus replies. “Please, Alexander. If you’re ever going to listen to me, listen to me now.”

There’s a desperation behind Magnus’ words that convinces Alec to close his eyes and bring his hands over his ears without any further hesitation. Not listening to Magnus is what brought them here in the first place, and he isn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

The sound that reaches Alec’s ears is nearly deafening, even through his palms pressed against his ears as hard as he can manage. There’s a light so bright he can see it beyond his clenched-shut eyelids, a flash of light red that brightens the blackness. The temptation to look is stronger than anything Alec’s ever felt before, and as the air around him begins to whip and pull at his clothing he almost does it.

Then it’s silent.

Alec takes a deep breath and releases the tension in his body ever-so-slightly, but keeps his hands over his ears and his eyes shut tight.

Even when the noises stop.

Alec wonders how long he should stay like this. The longer the silence draws out the faster the panic begins to rise, turning his stomach into knots and tightening his chest as his breathing quickens. What if Magnus is injured, or dead, and Alec is just standing there with his eyes shut doing nothing…

A gentle hand on Alec’s shoulder makes him jump, eyes snapping open with a split-second determination of whether the hand is a friend or an enemy. When his gaze lands on Magnus’ face mere inches away from his own, his first emotion is relief.

When he sees the way Magnus’ eyes droop with barely enough energy to remain open, his legs shaking until his knees buckle and he drops to the pavement below.

That’s when Alec finally takes in the other bodies on the ground. A quick glance shows nearly a dozen of them, and Alec can’t tell if they’re all warlocks or not. He also can’t tell if they’re unconscious or dead, and at this particular moment, he doesn’t want to know. If he thinks hard enough he’ll piece together that the barrier around him is no longer active, so at least one of them is dead.

Deep down, Alec knows he doesn’t care, not while Magnus is clearly hurting.

“Let’s get you out of here,” he says instead, focusing on escaping while he can.

Ohhhhhh, I love a good canon-compliant headcanon, especially for non-canon relationships.

I absolutely agree with Jace. He would have a lot of the same hold-ups that Alec faced, with having crafted this perfect persona of who he thought he needed to be and who others expected him to be, and anything that isn't going to fit that role of Golden Boy isn't going to come easy to him as far as accepting and potentially growing to embrace. If you're looking to put the idea into canon compliant scenarios, you can absolutely take the sheer number of girls he claims to hook up with as some of that self-destructive behavior. Where Alec went the route of never dating to cover up his own feelings, Jace sees girls a lot, either doing it to excess to cover up even the slightest hint of wanting anything other than girls, or potentially lying about most of those encounters just to keep that expected public persona up, even if it means no one knows the real him at all in the process.

I like the take you have on Izzy here, too! I hadn't thought about it like that, I always looked at how confident and assertive she seems to be in liking who she likes even if it isn't generally 'accepted', canonically in the form of downworlders, and just assume that same attitude would transfer to her dating other girls. But it's definitely interesting to look at who she chooses to date as a possible reflection of some of those internalized issues, and maybe to fuse our viewpoints looking at her choosing Downworlders (Meliorn, Raphael, Simon) and a mundane (Charlie) as maybe her way of deviating not as much as she wants to from what's expected of her, but as much as she feels she can.