[Canon is The Infernal Devices series]

[gabriellightwood]

Mundane...

Just what do you think you're doing?

Seriously. What are you going to do with me?

I don't really want to see that Will Herondale although I suppose that it may be of interest to find some of my other family members to discover what has become of the Lightwood name.

Comments

This is not going to help me talk myself out of playing Gideon

[alec_lightwood]

[This can't be worse than his conversations with Will, but he's still nervous, unsure of what his ancestor would think of him. Even he's sure that Gabriel would be proud of Isabelle.]

What's happened to us is complicated.

:D

[gabriellightwood]

You're a Lightwood?

[alec_lightwood]

I'm Alec Lightwood. I'm one of your family's descendants.

[gabriellightwood]

So what is this complicated thing that happens?

[alec_lightwood]

Things. A group of shadowhunters thought they knew better than the Clave so they tried to destroy the Accords and all the Downworlders.

My parents were part of it during the first attempt.

[gabriellightwood]

... They tried to destroy the Accords?

.........

First attempt?

[alec_lightwood]

They almost did. About ten years later, Valentine tried it again. He sent demons into Idris. [Somehow he manages to keep his voice level despite his thoughts turning to his brother.] They invaded Alicante.

[gabriellightwood]

And what did you do when your parents did such terrible things?

[His voice is edged and tense, thinking of his own father.]

[alec_lightwood]

I hadn't been born yet. They were teenagers during the first attempt.

During the second... the Clave was having a meeting and they had left us alone. Most of the adults left the children alone. [No matter how often Magnus had told him it wasn't his fault, he still believed it was his fault Max had died and Isabelle had been hurt.]

I... should have done more to protect them.

[gabriellightwood]

[He nods as if in understanding.]

They don't think of you as worth much until you're eighteen...

Protect who? Your parents? Did something happen to them?

[alec_lightwood]

I was eighteen. Barely.

I should've done more to protect my siblings. A demon attacked the house and I was trying to save a friend. I left my sister and little brother with someone I trusted. He killed Max and tried to kill Isabelle.

My parents survived the attacks, but our family is falling apart.

[gabriellightwood]

[His frown deepens. He doesn't like the sound of any of that.]

Falling apart in what way? Is the Lightwood name in danger as well as yourselves?

[alec_lightwood]

My parents are estranged. They really don't have much to do with Isabelle or me. When I die, the Lightwood name will end unless Isabelle keeps her family name. I've heard that happens sometimes.

[magnus_bane]

Gabriel Lightwood. What an unpleasant surprise. Has Cecily Herondale gotten tired of you yet? [A slight upturn at the corner of his lips gave a parody of what could possibly pass as a smile. Well, it was closer to a grimace.]

Should you really dally in the modern crowd? Or is that the point? Spreading your seeds of humbleness around to bring sunshine and happiness to your future generations?

[gabriellightwood]

....

[He's not happy to see you, Magnus. At all.]

What Cecily does or does not do is no business of yours, warlock.

I want you to know I do not approve of you corrupting my futures descendants either.

[magnus_bane]

[It's safe to say the feeling is mutual as he sends him a sharp look.]

No, it's not. I concede that point.

[But that brought him to a different matter entirely, didn't it?] I don't recall corrupting anyone. You are the one that sees it fit to call it corruption. You do love seeing the world through your own interpretations, Gabriel.

[Normally he was better at this, keeping hostilities in check... in fact he didn't care about the insults to his own person.] One, I rather dislike Maryse and Robert. Two, because they're horrible parents. Three, because they signed on for mass genocide of all downworlders and Nephilim that affiliated with them. So I hardly had any hand in their lives unless she called me up for an odd job.

[He gave the Lightwood a bored look.] I had no hand whatsoever in Isabelle's life. In fact, she had more affairs with the fae, vampires and so forth than most of her young age. But well... you see, at least she didn't call up a demon to sleep with. [Possibly a low blow, but Gabriel did insult Alec.]

In the end, if you are referring to my relationship with Alexander... I will fully confess I don't deserve him. But you're wrong. He is not corruptible. So if you could, kindly refrain from your callous judgments. After all, Fascilis decensus averno...

[gabriellightwood]

Don't bring my father into this.

[He tenses very visibly at that. It's obviously still very upsetting to him.]

As for... Is that his full name? Alexander. He called himself Alec. As for him, he told me that he is likely to be the end of the Lightwood name and I would say that is in no small part down to his relationship with you.

Did you enchant him in some way?

[magnus_bane]

You seem to be the one starting the aspersions of guilt by calling Alexander out for his preferences. Which you seem to think makes him a monster. I do recall that being a far bigger problem in your immediate family.

[Taking a deep breath, he mentally smoothed down his own hackles. There really proved no point in 'flying off the handle'. Most Lightwoods were obstinate and self-righteous. It would do him no good.]

I have seen names die out many times over history. I have seen your kind flick and snuff out like a candle flame in a hurricane. If the name dies out, it is a natural course.

As for our relationships which, by the way is none of your concern or business, is by no means a result of my magic. Though I do make a lovely bedside nurse I've been told. [Okay, so the joke probably wasn't needed.] I healed him. He was dying. I daresay, the family name would have died there, wouldn't you?

[Focusing his feline eyes on him, he spoke softer this time.] Your family is full of lies, judgments, self-righteous bigotry. The first branch of hope I've ever seen branch from your family tree is Alexander Gideon Lightwood. And your family? They want to cut it off. If I could compare him to any I've met before, he is a soft echo of your brother. So say what you will about me... but I will not stand for the way in which you reference Alec.

[gabriellightwood]

.... I did not mean to call him a monster. I only do not wish for the Lightwood name to discontinue and...

[He pauses, his expression breaking into distress for a moment before he composes himself again. When he speaks next his voice is smaller and more unsure.]

You... saved his life?

[magnus_bane]

It is noble to worry about ones family. But your concern is lying with the name... not with the people that bear it. Check your priorities, Gabriel. He has no one. You couldn't bear the thought of your father throwing you out... imagine how he felt when his turned his back on him.

[Magnus rarely let the emotions carry him. Even with all the troubles and pain he and Alec went through... even what ripped them apart... he loved him.]

Abaddon poisoned him. A greater demon. You know as well as I do that not all Warlocks can heal that sort of injury. Had I not come when I got the note... he would have died.

[gabriellightwood]

I am grateful for your help in such a matter but I still.... well, it's just very unusual.

[At least to him. He's not used to dealing with that sort of relationship. Give him some time to adjust.]

Of course I'd like to think any of my family is happy. Do you make him happy?

[magnus_bane]

I never expected you to take the news with open arms. But there is a saying regardless... that you can still love the person even if you don't love what they do. I think you know how that works.

[He knew the Victorian mindset. Not all were forward thinking enough to ignore it like Will and Tessa did. He simply hated the idea of Alec being cut off when he was someone so worth loving.]

I can only hope that I do. And if ever I thought I wasn't... I would do anything to make it so. Even walk away. Or rather in our case... forgive. [Not that he expected Gabriel to understand that.]

[gabriellightwood]

Yes... I know how that works.

[He sounds grim.]

Forgive? For what?

[magnus_bane]

Then please, give him that chance. I promise that you will not regret it. He is as much the warrior you are... and all of the heart your brother had but more.

[Alec deserved a family member to be proud of him. Someone other than Isabelle or Jace. And he couldn't take it out on Robert or Maryse...

But then Gabriel put him on the spot. Shifting slightly, he ran his hand through messy spiked hair.]

Mistakes made... hurts that shouldn't have happened. From both sides... But when you're at war and your parents are disowning you, I should have realized it's the age old reaction to hurt the one you love most.

[gabriellightwood]

Sometimes you have to cut the ties of family, even the ones that hurt the most.

[His jaw is set with determination but it's clearly something that he doesn't really want. If his family could all stay together and be happy, wouldn't that always be best? It seemed never to be so, in their case.]