#imthebestofboth

no one has ever loved you.

i know you're a good person. even if most of the time it doesn't feel like it. im sorry growing up happened under less than ideal circumstances. but people love you now, i promise. sometimes it's hard to remember that just because you've felt unloved before, it doesn't mean you're unloved now. I love you :-)

“WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY ABOUT MY MOTHER?!” Variel shouted in mock-offence, Jess who had been about to rush at her, stumbled and just burst into laughter.

“I called your mother a trout! What you gonna do about it?” Jess taunted, unable to help herself as she just laughed harder watching her friend's face go from 'offended' to 'mad' before a grin made its way onto Variel's face and both of them were soon laying on their backs, clutching their sides as they laughed. Loudly.

“A trout?! Jeeeess” Came the half wheeze sounding whine from the Shadowhunter and Jess just snickered

“I didn't wanna say anything that might come off as actually offensive, leave me alone” She said managing to calm her laughter as her sides were beginning to hurt.

“Ah yes because you could totally say something that would offend my totally real mother” Variel said and Jess just laughed

“See? Now you get it, I didn't want to offend this person that doesn't exist. Makes total sense right?”

“Oh by the angel!”

Jess just laughed more as Variel sat up, wiping at the few laughter tears that had managed to escape down her cheeks. Pretending to be sad as her friend playfully shook her head at her

“Sometimes you make me wonder” Variel said as she grabbed her two blades and laid them across her lap, giving Jess time to sit up and clutch her chest.

“How rude! After all I've done for you! For our friendship! You insult me!” Jess's antics just send Variel into a new round of laughter and Jess has to fight a grin to stay in character, her lips turning into a pout “You wound me! I fought demons with and for you! Put my life! On the line! I am hurt!”

“Yeah, Yeah real hu-” Variel broke off as more laughter bubbled up “I can't! Oh angel, you win. I caaan't”

Variel clutched at her sides, the laughter getting even worse as there was a resounding yell of 'FUCK YES' as Jess did a small little sitting down happy dance before catching the giggles.

Eventually both ladies were able to mostly calm down and Jess got up, still snickering to herself, to go and grab her sword where she'd dropped it while Variel got up and went to grab their water bottles.

“A trout, just. . .a trout?”

“Are you still on about the bad insult?” Jess asked walking over, slipping her sword into its sheath before accepting the water bottle that was offered her way “Thank you”

“You're welcome and I am! You could have said catfish or clownfish even! Why a trout?” Variel asked in return and Jess just shrugged, plonking herself down on the bench. Watching her friend deactivate her two glowing seraph blades while she took a large gulp of her water.

“It was the first thing that came to my head okay?”

“First fish you mean?”

“Fuck you”

“I do swing your way Jess but you really ain't my type, I prefer women I don't have to bend all the way down to my knees to kiss” A low blow but the look on Jess's face was worth it and Variel burst into laughter even as she got a towel thrown her way

“It's not my fault you're a tall bitch!! Fuck you” Jess grumbled, pouting as she huffed. Grumbling to herself as Variel attempted to reel it in and failed.

“Aw come on Jess, I just told you why we can't”

“OH MY GODS, I'M GOING TO KILL YOU!”

“You have to catch me first”

Eye color

Typical/favorite everyday outfit

Ultimate talent

Favorite flowers

Picrew/pic/drawing

Place they love to visit

Favorite drink

Quote that defines them

Anything else

Caldenlokiel

Cal has hazel eyes that change depending on the day. Sometimes they're more brown and look very similar to Gabe's gold, and some days they look green.

long sleeve T or button up, heavy coat, dark jeans or slacks, sturdy boots

Cal always remembers exactly how everyone likes their tea and coffee, who prefers what, and what their favorite snacks are.

Morning Glory

FC Tim Roth

The mountaintop near where Gabe first found him. He likes to go there when things get too busy to ground himself or spread his wings.

Tea, of course, with just a bit of sugar.

"Nothing hurts more than trying so hard to be good enough and being replaced by someone better." -h.n.

Cal's wings look like those of a European Kestrel, ecept the undersides are stained dark since his run in with the darkness of Aegis.

Branocc Cynfran

Black, so dark it's hard or impossible to distinguish between iris and pupil.

button up usually with the sleeves rolled up or a band T, dark jeans or black slacks, sleek but sturdy black boots

Shadowmancy

Echeveria Black Prince Plant

FC Ben Barnes

Maybe not a specific place, but Branoc loves to visit the air, flying in his crow form.

Branoc loves trying new teas, especially fruity and colorful ones.

"Go slowly and go far."

The charm bracelet Carugwen made of some of the gifts Branoc brought her. He still wears it nearly constantly.

Maisri 'Kit' Mac an Baird

Pale blue or green, depending on the lighting.

Kit has so many pairs of coveralls, all of them stained with dirt from the garden or with paint. She's usually barefoot until it gets too cold, then she wears wellies. She likes colorful shirts, especially with fun patterns.

Kit is an amazing painter.

Purple Flora Gladiolus

FC Sophie Turner

Kit loves spending time in the garden, either working the land, painting in the shade, or just sitting against the tree.

Hot cocoa

"I think you'll find me similar to the Scottish thistle flower, pretty to look at but oh-so-prickly." -Just A Little Kilted

Kit is a familiar that takrs the form of a fox. She's never had a witch, and wouldn't really know how to be a witch's familiar anyways.

Edda Solston

Brown, but very nearly golden, especially in direct sunlight.

Mjolnir that she wears constantly, music related T's or tank tops, cargo pants 'cause pockets, yellow hightops or black boots, green boho jacket she made from a couple different pieces from a thrift store, arrow earrings, keyboard bracelet, charm bracelets and finger rings that relate to music, the sun, archery, or norse paganism.

Edda can play several instruments, but she's best at the flute.

French Marigolds

FC Willow Shields

Camp Half-Blood, of course. Edda loves having such a big extended family, even if she's usually too shy to talk to most of them.

Strawberry lemonade

"I never lose. Either I win or learn." -Ragnar Lothbrok

Being the child of Apollo, Edda has many talents, not just music. She's also very good at archery.

Tagged by: stolen from dash

“I am gonna fucking kill em” Jess said, her voice low and deep as she gently dabbed at the burn marks on her friend's hands. Ignoring the soft hiss of pain.

“It was an accident” the lie slipped out before Vari could stop herself and she simply glanced away as Jess sent her a look

“Horse shit”

The silence hung in the air between them as Jess continued her work, dipping the face towel she was using into the bowl of cold water, wringing it out before gently working on the burns. Taking extra care around the few blisters that had popped.

“You give them too much space you know” Jess started, waiting until a confused look was sent her way before she continued “You make peace with people whose bigotry could get you killed, You are allowed to fight back you know? Your fathers' would on your behalf”

“They have their hands full with my brothers” Came Variel's soft reply and Jess simply sighed

“You are their daughter. They couldn't give less of a shit mate. You know that”

“I do”

“Do something about it then! For fuck sake V, this is going to put you on the sidelines for a week” Jess said tapping the underside of one of Variel's hands “And what excuse are you planning to give? Folks know you aren't stupid. Certainly not fuckin stupid enough to burn yourself on something as simple as the spell work you were throwing out for those kids to practise dodging. Your dad would call you out in an instant if you tried it.”

“Wrong burn patterns too”

“Exactly” Jess put stress on it, letting it hang in the space between them, pausing before she continued “At least tell Cal, He'll get angry but not at you right?”

“I...do not think angry at me” Variel admitted quietly, tilting her head slightly before she sighed “I do not want to”

“Because he's going to agree with the only other sane person you know. I'm the sane one here dude, what the fuck are you doing?”

Variel snorted, a small smile spreading on her lips and Jess grinned. Quite pleased that she'd been able to get at least that. She'd take a small smile and a snort.

“Seriously V, this shit needs to stop. I know you wanna keep an eye on your brother, he'll be fine trust. His friends are gonna rally around that kid if anyone steps out of line about it. Protect yourself to protect him. They'll be less likely to fuck with him if his parents AND his scary big sister got his back”

Jess then laid her friend’s hands down onto the table they were sitting by, draping the towel over the back of hers to dry off before she grabbed a dry towel and gently dried her hands off. Flashing apologetic smiles at the soft pained noises.

Knowing that Variel tended to be silent with her pain. She had walls up with people she didn't trust. The noises meant Vari trusted her, hopefully she could get through to her the damage she was doing.

“Gonna try to avoid the popped ones but if I do hit em, wash it off” Jess said, nodding her head towards the damp towel and she waited until Variel nodded before popping open the aloe vera gel. Getting a good amount on her hands, she started slowly and carefully rubbing it onto the burned skin. Frowning at the heat still coming off them. Hopefully that would cool soon. If not, she was demanding that Vari head to the Institute to get taken care of.

Or maybe she'd grab her and take her to one of the few hospitals in the state she knew of that had supernatural doctors that wouldn't freak out seeing them both. One Demigod most of them could handle. A Demigod and a Shadowhunter? Most would be liable to slam the doors on them both. Understandable she supposed but still pretty fucking rude.

She'd take it minute by minute.

She was a med student, there was only so much she could do.

“I will at least bring it up to Cal” Variel said a few minutes later, her eyes fixed to the work Jess was doing.

Jess glanced up at her and smiled, giving a small nod

“Good please do dude. I'm more than happy to be there or hell you could call him right now? Just give you something to do while I work. This is gonna take a lil and I wanna make sure nothing gets worse so you are gonna be here for a few hours anyway” Jess said, snicking at the low whine that left her friend's mouth “Yeah fucking sucks don't it?”

“I truly hate you” Variel muttered and Jess giggled, grinning

“Nah you don't, you came to me injured. You loooooove me~” Jess sang, giggling more as there was a gentle brush of wind and a tissue hit her in the face “Very mature”

“Very mindful, very demure”

Both women cracked up into loud laughter that slowly died down into manic giggling then into slow attempts to calming breaths.

“Tiktok was a mistake” Jess said snickering, shaking her head before she got up and gave her hands a rinse in the bowl “Alright, enough fuckin around. Where's your phone?”

“Ugh, jacket pocket” Variel groaned, flicking her eyes up as Jess bounced merrily over to the couch where Vari's jacket was draped over it. Taking Variel's phone out, she grinned seeing the lock screen

“Awwww what a cute lil void baby~” She cooed, glancing down at the sad 'hmph' from her own black doggy void on the couch “You are the mostest cutest babiest hellhound ever Gyps, you aren't a void baby”

Jess leaned down and gave the pup a scratch, soothing the savage beast while Variel just watched amused

“Aren't you just a baby, just the most precious ever yes you are~”

“You make me glad I am a cat person” Variel pipped up and Jess scoffed

“As if you are any better!! I've seen the cat burritos, the homemade meals, the 4 cat trees you went through before finding one that was perfect for 'the most special man' shut the fuck up” Jess snapped back, sending her friend a smug grin while Variel just coughed

“I have no idea what you could be referring to”

“Suuuuure. I'm dialing your man now”

“You've got to be fucking joking!!!”

Variel watched with an amused grin as Jess got up from the dining room chair and began to pace around the living room, two fingers pressed to her lips as the demigod was clearly fighting a smile. Her dark grey eyes shining.

“That was my reaction as well” Variel said, shifting to fold her legs under her. Glancing away from her friend for just a moment to stare at the image of the birth report she had up on her laptop “Minus the swearing”

“That's just. . .fuck” Jess said, breaking into giggles before she walked over and leaned down to stare at the image. Her eyes moving back and forth over the screen. “Who knows?”

“The Silent Brothers in attending and I suspect a few more. The Blackwells might also have it in their family records somewhere but I am not sure. I was not given that information”

“But no one else?” she asked and Vari nodded slowly, watching as a borderline manic grin grew “Oh that's so fucking precious. Ares of all people!!!! he does have a thing for warrior women”

“It is a shame that part of the family seemed to have vanished off. I wonder where” Variel mused, the two of them sharing a look then a snicker before both were laughing. “By the angel this is so silly”

“it's fucking hilarious is what it is. We didn't have to be so sneaky about being friends after all. My gods” Jess giggled, shaking her head as she slowly attempted to calm down only to catch Vari's eyes and be set off again.

For years, the two of them had carefully snuck around New York City. Vari asking for Jess's help with Demons and the like while Jess often called her in for advice or to help with a particularly stubborn Monster. Both nervous about what their communities would do if they knew the other lived among them.

Demigods- and more so those of the Underworld variety- could be argued to be “unnatural” and thus eradicated and Jess had quietly admitted that while she was sure the Gods knew about the existence of Shadowhunters. Some of her fellows would hear the words 'angel blood' and get the wrong idea.

With Ares apparently knocking a Shadowhunter up, maybe they hadn't needed to be quite so careful.

“Hooo boy I needed that” Jess said giggling, fanning her face as she slowly calmed down. Variel hadn't quite gotten there yet, still trying to rein in her delighted giggling. “Weird question. Any photos of the kid?”

Variel silently hit the right arrow key on her laptop to show the image of a red haired, brown eyed baby. Jess stared at the image intently, studying every feature before giving a helpless shrug and snapping a photo with her phone

“I'll ask Chir if he knows him and if he doesn't. Charon will” she said, stuffing her phone back into her pocket “That's so weird. You'd think rumours of a more like uh gifted? I guess? Demigod would have floated around more. Unless he got hidden off at Camp Jupiter?”

“He or She, the report does not actually say” Vari admitted, giving Jess a small one-armed shrug at her confused look “The mother clearly wanted this to be kept quiet. Secret. It helps not to confirm gender when you are trying to hide”

“That I fuckin guess makes sense” Jess said quietly, clearly a little distracted by her own thoughts “This is just so interesting. Our worlds combined for a brief moment”

“They did and no one died! Bonus” Vari joked while Jess snickered softly, shaking her head “I could not see the child staying with their mother. Not in Idris. Not around other hunters.”

“Did 'mum' stay in Idris?”

“As far as I am aware? She did die before I was born but from a demon attack, no foul play suspected”

“Did anyone tell them I wonder?” Jess turned her attention back to the baby photo, head tilted slightly “Did anyone know to?”

“A Silent Brother would have tried to. I believe at least” Vari said, her tone thoughtful but slightly sad “That would be awful. Never knowing your mother then having to learn she died before you could. How involved is Ares?”

“Fuckin not much” Jess snorted, sitting back down in her chosen chair. Leaning her chest against the back of the chair “Even with the parent promise. . .he is a lot more interested in his lady love and his domain than his mortal children. He visits as little as he can get away with. Dove Love as their step-mother is often more involved with them than he. She's very involved as a parent however so I guess it doesn't shock me”

“So he would not have informed them then?”

“Nope” Jess answered, popping the 'p'

Vari hummed softly, turning her attention to her laptop. That clenched at her heart a little.

The thought of never knowing her dads or even her brothers before they died just hurt. She cherished the bonds she had with her family and it saddened her that one of her fellow Shadowhunters had gone without it. Too many families had lost too much recently. Even 20 plus years later, they were still rebuilding what was destroyed.

“Well. As I know quite well. You are not going to let this go. Do tell me what information you find out?”

“Oh yeah of course, as if I fuckin wouldn't” Jess said, flashing Vari a grin “I bet I'll know all the details by next Monday and i'll be sure to fill you in”

“Your ability to find out information that you should not be able to access always delights and frightens me” Vari admitted quietly and Jess just snorted

“I cheat and ask the dead more often than not. It's fiiiiine” Jess said, waving a hand and Vari just laughed softly

"If only things were ever that simple" Vari mused quietly before she stood up and stretched, groaning softly as some of the muscles in her back popped "Tea?"

"Fizzy please, any fanta?"

"Of course, what am I? an animal? raised in a barn?"

Send 📐 + your character's height to compare with one or more of mine!

starter for @imthebestofboth

Cal paced the hall outside Variel's apartment. He was nervous about their first official date. At one end of the hall was a mirror, and he kept stopping to check his hair, which he'd actually put effort into for once, and his clothes. He usually didn't pay attention to things like that. He'd never really needed to. But now... he'd finally told Variel how he felt about her. And she had reciprocated in kind. She loved him.

He was starting to accept that he might actually be someone worth loving- though most days, it was still hard for him to see how. He'd gotten so lucky with Gabe and the others in New Orleans, but that had all been... different. Sudden.

He shook his head, pushing those thoughts to the back of his mind for later contemplation. He stopped again in front of the mirror, setting down the flowers he'd brought to straighten his shirt again. He'd been early, which was a mistake. It gave him far too long to pace and worry.