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[veniae]

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[helical]

Hey, mom
Thanks for being there.

[veniae]

I have a suspicion it's you we should be thanking, Alec. Do you think it was a success?

[ A second later: ] Thank you for inviting me.

[helical]

It's a start. There's a lot of work to do

It was good to have you there.

[veniae]

Well, for good or ill, you are fighting against decades upon decades of tradition. It may be a slow start, but if you show you're not going to give up, some will listen. Even if it's only those who see the practical benefits.

I'm never going to be popular with Downworlders, Alec. If my presence hurts your efforts, I won't be upset if you ask me to stay away in the future.

[helical]

I'm prepared to work for it as long as it takes.

Thanks, but I think it'll be okay. The point is to do better from now on, not pretend the past didn't happen or that people can't change.

[veniae]

I spent a lot of time not seeing you for the man you have become, Alec. You deserve to hear it in person, but I'm sorry. And I really hope this works.

The timing's certainly apt. Speaking of that, I heard a rumor about something you discussed.

[helical]

Thanks, mom. I hope so too. I'll keep trying.

Oh? What rumor?

[veniae]

Good. That's good.

It concerns something Magnus Bane shared. Something to do with Valentine and a greater demon. Is it true?

[helical]

It's true.

[veniae]

Am I right in thinking that means that in addition to Valentine being free, Magnus was in Valentine's place?

[helical]

Yes.

[veniae]

And he came back the Institute anyway. He really wants to support what you're doing, doesn't he?

[helical]

Yeah, he does. He's always there for me.

[veniae]

We said some unfair things about him.

I said some unfair things about him. To both of you. Is he all right?

[helical]

Maybe you should apologize to him. Eventually.

It might take a little while for him to be completely alright after this. We had him tortured.

[veniae]

You didn't know, Alec. It's Valentine. He's proven time and again how deceptive he can be.

As for Magnus, I hope he will be all right. I should talk to him, but maybe not yet. It's not just this or what I said about your relationship. We have a history. Honestly, I don't know where to begin apologizing to him.

I spoke to Lucian, too. Luke, I mean. I didn't know about Jocelyn's rite of mourning, that he wasn't there. Alec, we've gotten so many things wrong. I think it's easy to hope your generation can fix our mistakes, but maybe there's something we can do, too.

[helical]

Yeah. Still wish I'd done more. I knew something wasn't right.

You'll figure it out. He'll appreciate it, you know. Just that you're trying.

There is. Being here today is part of that. You can support all the changes we're trying to make, and make your own. Like what you're going to do about dad.

[veniae]

You'll do more next time. Won't you?

I think part of me always knew he was being more fair to us than we to him. Looking back on it, I don't know why we thought half the things we thought. Hindsight doesn't make everything clear.

I have to think of the ramifications of leaving him, Alec. We both know that consequences can extend far beyond what we anticipate. I won't have you and your siblings getting hurt anymore than you already have been.

[helical]

Yes. I will.

Because of fear. And the prejudices we've all been taught to have.

We can stand on our own, Mom. Max is under Izzy's wing, and you know I won't let anything happen to either of them. That includes you, too. I'll put anyone who has comments in their place.

[veniae]

That's what matters, Alec. You learn from your mistakes. That sets you apart from so many people.

We thought we had a good reason for the things we did. I know it doesn't excuse anything, but we didn't think we were making the world an unsafe place for you to live. That's not what we wanted.

I believe you would. You've come a long way, Alec.

[helical]

You taught me that, you know. To accept the consequences of my actions. That makes me think on them and adapt.

It's always unsafe to think you're superior to others simply because of your blood status. But I think you see that now.

[veniae]

I only wish we were talking about something as easily fixed as a broken nose now. I believe in you, Alec. I know you'll do the right thing.

I do. It's not been a pleasant road getting here, but I do.

[helical]

Thank you. It helps, hearing that.

[ finally, he doesn't say, but he thinks it. ]

I don't think any of this is going to be pleasant. We have years to undo. Centuries. And it's going to be constant work

[veniae]

Everything now has been a long time coming. We and our ancestors built a system that's doomed to fail if things don't change.

I'm sorry we put that burned on your generation's shoulders. It encourages me to know you and your siblings have never been the type to give up.

[helical]

Yeah. We have. I don't know where it started, if it was the Angel or... just fear. But we have to work to undo it.

We're not. You taught us that, you know.

[veniae]

I'm not sure it was like this from the start. I think we let it get this bad. From arrogance or whatever you'd like to call it. It's a problem to be fixed now.

Not in the kindest of ways, perhaps.

[helical]

How it started doesn't really matter. Point is, things can't keep going on as they have.
So yes. It's a problem to be fixed, and I plan on doing what I can to do that.

Better than some.

[veniae]

Other people have tried without success. I'm sure they told you as much.

I used to think I had to be tough on you because you were my child. Now I think it's not just strength we're supposed to impart to our children. I want to do better.

[helical]

Yes. They did. But with time I think... I think it'll work.

You have enough on your plate right now to linger on things that are too late to change. You're already doing better.

[veniae]

You're more patient than some. No doubt they would have seen the first hint of any kind of failure as a reason to assume it wouldn't work. Maybe not Lucian. But he's had so many other things on his mind.

Doing better is my goal. I will try, Alec. You have my word.

[helical]

I think we're all motivated by wanting to see the same thing. It helps, that they also want a change, that they have even more reason to work toward one. I just want to help them get through to the Clave,
kind of like being a bridge.

Have you spoken to him recently?

I believe you. Thank you, mom.

[veniae]

We gave them reason. I wish I could say I'm hopeful the Clave will understand that, but I'm still coming to grips with it myself. It may be a long road just getting to that point.

Not since the meeting. I thought I might try, but maybe it's better if I give it some more time.

I think it will be awhile before I'm deserving of thanks, but thank you for saying as much. You're a good man.

[helical]

It will be. The Clave isn't one person, so changing it's way of thinking might... I expect it might take years, but that it'll work in the end.

I think you should try again.

It means a lot that you're trying. That's deserving of thanks.

[veniae]

What does it look like, in your mind? When things start changing for the better.

Do you? Maybe I will. I can surely make some time to see him when I'm in the city again.

I'll try to remember that. It helps me stay on track, remembering why I'm doing what I'm doing.

[helical]

Downworlders have a say in the laws that govern them. Shadowhunters are held accountable to the same degree Downworlders are. Everyone's judged on the same basis.

Luke is fair. He'll hear you out if what you're saying makes sense.

[veniae]

You think that would work? That we could exist harmoniously like that?

He was in an awful hurry to get away the last time we tried to talk.

[helical]

I do. I think that's how it's meant to be, but we've let this idea that we're superior and know best cloud our judgement.

It was the day of the cabinet, wasn't it? There was a lot on his mind.

[veniae]

It will take a long time to unlearn that. I can't tell you how many times I've heard it said or said it myself.

You're right. I'm sure he has a lot on his mind every day though. Especially lately.