Can you imagine when Clary or Simon figures out that Alec is just.... Living out a regency dime novel, how fucking funny that would be. Like.
Simon: No because think about it, a repressive society, an inexperienced heroine who's been forced to hide her sexuality, a rich rake who's in a local position of power---
Alec: I'm also in a position of power!
Simon: Yeah, some heroines are like, duchesses and stuff too, but they don't have any real power due to the crippling weight of societal expectations---
Alec: I'm going to kill you.
Simon: but anyway, the rake who's known for throwing these like, elaborate balls, who's closed his heart off to love---NO WAIT. MAGNUS IS MISTER DARCY. Like "I'm ignoring the inferiority of your birth" but instead of classism it's that your parents were magical Nazis.
Clary: You know, I think Magnus is more of a Bingley, I'm pretty sure he was into Alec from like, Day 1.
Simon: Have you seen Mr. Darcy? No way that man was not thirsting after our girl Elizabeth Bennet from like, the first time she sasses him back.
Clary: No, but hold on, I think Jane fits way better, the one who has all of their parents expectations on her to marry well, I mean, Elizabeth is more like Izzy or Jace if anything, like fuck the rules, stick it to the man vibes.
Simon: you realize. This makes YOU Mr. Darcy.
Clary: ...
Clary: Let's go back to Alec being a regency dime novel heroine.
Alec: I hate both of you.
Simon: Honestly, half of it is just how great of a dime novel hero Magnus makes. Like he's rakish and rich, and looks like he'd pull off a cravat. And he's always talking about how much he wants to "ravish" Alec. But their entire love story fits the plot honestly. Hero introduces heroine to the world of desire and passion, and heroine has to choose between the life she's always wanted for herself, or this sexy man with rippling abs who society doesn't want her to have.
Alec: talk about Magnus's body again and I'll find a stake and use you as a wall decoration.
Simon: ...I guess he's a little more violent than most regency heroines but there are variations to the genre.