Merry Christmas from Jem and Mina <3

@cassandraclare

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@lucie-blackthorns@axoloteca@casualsthings@ohcoolnice@nc-scketch@lady-ofroses@lord-jethro@astraeasflower@imherongraystairstrash

Jem to Emma

Dearest Emma,

Thank you for writing to keep me apprised of the situation at Blackthorn Hall, and this haunting in particular. It means a great deal to me that you’re willing to share what’s going on. I’m glad we’ve moved beyond the days when you felt you had to conceal your more wild schemes from the older generation, myself included. I hope you know that you need keep no secrets from me, no matter how outlandish those schemes are. Secrets have caused you and Julian so much heartbreak in the past, I want you to know that you can tell me anything and I will not judge you.

So you say you are helping a ghost? That could be a noble pursuit, and a compassionate one, but I must urge you to be careful. Blackthorn Hall has a history that at times involved unsavory characters and sinister magic, and if a spirit truly is haunting the manor, it may not be benevolent. The fact that Magnus sensed no ill will eases my mind a great deal, but I would still urge you to think carefully about what this ghost asks of you in seeking its freedom. It may not mean you any overt harm, but that does not mean that no harm will come to you.

As for the Devil Tavern—I do indeed know it. It has been a Downworlder haunt for many centuries, and for some time, at the early part of the last century, it was something of a refuge for people Tessa and I cared about very much. I do not want to tell you too much about them — it is painful to cast our thoughts back to that time, for it is a reminder of so much that has been lost, and of those we could not save. But I also think it may not help you — it seems to me best that you go into this search without preconceptions or expectations of what you may find.

Why do I feel this? I can only say that during my many years of being a Silent Brother, I felt a great kinship for shades: for the dead and those who haunted, and for the memories that tethered them to earth. I too was tethered by memories in those times. They were what kept me human and able to return to this life I have now, that I love so much.

So I will not tell you of names, or personalities — they may not be relevant to your search at all, but you must go forward, to find that out. And that is why I will tell you this: you saw only a little of the Devil Tavern. There are a set of rather blackened stairs behind the bar, and up those stairs there is a secret room, one that was closed off decades ago. It is possible that whatever your ghost is looking for may be in there. If you wish to gain entry to the hidden room — and a warmer reception at the Devil in general — show the bartender your family rings. Say the names: Blackthorn. Carstairs. They will matter.

I hope you will keep me apprised of what you discover, and the next steps in your adventure. I wish to know, though there is some part of me that fears what you might find in that room, and what it may say about the fates of those I loved in the past. I hope that I am wrong. I hope that this tale will have a happy ending. I know this much—this ghost is lucky to have determined souls such as yourself and Julian helping it to find rest.

Church has informed me that it is, in fact, time for dinner, and naturally I must attend to his every whim. I hope that you and Julian are having a good time settling in at Blackthorn Hall, in spite of the restive ghost and the many years of neglect the place has suffered. You are correct that it does not surprise me that a ghost is there. The past haunts that place, a story of things done and things left undone. It is possible that by bringing love and warmth into that place, you will close that chapter of neglect, and open a new one, of infinite possibility.

I believe in you, Emma. When I see you, I see Carstairs past; I see bravery, and the flame of Cortana. Remember that you are of the steel and temper of those who have gone before you. I hope that I will see you again soon, and that when I do I will have the strength to tell you of some of them, of a girl with fire-bright hair, and her brother, and those who came before and after them.

Love,

Jem

Will, spinning Jem in a circle: the world really does revolve around me

EVERYONE STOP AND REALIZE THIS

“how do you write like you need it to survive?”

y’all just gonna act like this parallel between howls moving castle and acomaf don’t exist??

summoning circle, hope this works

the tid

show being so good

we get a tlh show

I like how Cassandra Clare has put at least one bad egg in most of the Shadowhunter families (with multiple members). Fairchild, Lightwood, Blackthorn, Carstairs, etc

Except Herondale, I don’t remember anyone in that family who was rather a rotten person (please enlighten me)

Cassandra Clare really likes compound surnames doesn’t she

Yin Yang Jem Carstairs

Let me explain this card like I did for Will’s.

Thankfully I was able to finish this in time for Jem’s birthday even though I’m posting this late as hell.

The Yang shows his passion for music. I used Tartini’s “The Devil’s Trill” in the background because it reminded me of him at certain points of his life. The violin and his cane are also there.

The additional parts are the Carstairs symbol, which is a castle or a tower. The silver box, and the jade pendant he gave Tessa.

The Yin side shows the darker and sad part of his life caused by the Yin Fen. The red chains symbolize the restraint the drug has affected him as he cannot grow old, marry, and have kids and he has accepted that his life was going to be short, therefore he cut every desire or chance to get those things because he would part sooner than later.

This took a while because I was between projects and I got too stressed. (You’d be surprised how much I insulted him and the other stuff. Art makes me so aggressive for my perfectionist ass.)

Anyways, the next one in line will be Tessa. But I think I’ll start her mid-late November, latest early December.

“I can offer you my life, but it is a short life; I can offer you my heart, though I have no idea how many more beats it shall sustain.”

— Jem Carstairs

This took a good three days and transferring from a tablet, to my PC, to my phone just to get this done. Not going to lie, I’m proud. And i think I might stick with this kind of style for a while.

Anyways, love to our sweet boy Jem.

I’ll try to think what to do next.

“Sometimes grief and worry must take the form of action. Sometimes it is unbearable to sit and wait.”— Cordelia Carstairs

I think this one took about 4hrs and 30mins if not a little more.

It’s funny how I actually asked my mom for help about what color should the earrings be with a golden dress. I suck at clothing style.

I still can’t believe I did that. 7-7

I just want to say that I love Alastair…

BUT I SWEAR TO HOLY RAZIEL THAT THE NUMBER OF TRIES I MADE OF DAMN BLONDE SHADES ON THE DRAWING I’M DOING IS HIGHER THAN THE “I fucked up” RATES OF THE HERONDALE FAMILY AND JUST FOR HIM TO BACK TO FUCKING BLACK–

Like I said. I love him very much.

Update: I fucked up and accidentally gave him my OC’s hairstyle but meh. Baby looks good. I’ll post it later.

Have you ever been seeing memes for a long time and tell yourself “I should stop before I see a spoiler” but the memes are so good you don’t stop. Then the spoiler hits you like a bitch, you close everything down, zone out for a while, and insult yourself right after?

Feeding Ducks

Jem: They’re adorable.

Will: They’re monsters.

Jem: Let’s adopt one.

Will: Traitor! Bringing the enemy home!!

parksbornshipper:

Shadowhunter Families

To be a Herondale is to love so deeply and passionately that you feel like you’re flying rather than falling.

To be a Carstairs is to be the sword and shield between what you love and the world against it.

To be a Lightwood is to burn bright with the love you have not only for others, but the love you learn to feel for yourself.

To be a Blackthorn is to be so devoted to your family that the hand striking at them comes away with its blood on your armor.

To be a Fairchild is to understand and love those around you for the strength that others call a weakness.

To be a Lovelace is to let the ones you love choose their path, even if it breaks your heart when they never return.

To be a Morgenstern is to sink to any depth for what you love, even if you hit the ground burning on your own passion.

To be a Shadowhunter is to love.