(Almost) Everything Is Comin' Up Chase [closed post]

[summerdude]

Magnus, triumphant, has finally managed to make some old bamboo sprout. With Drosera fed recently enough that she's not complaining of hunger and resting in her new favorite perch (lounging on his shoulder tucked right against his neck, her beak tangled in hair that is once again getting long), he sneaks it into the Mansion, hides it in a large gift-bag a closet gives him, and hangs it on Claudius and Galahad's doorknob with a quickly-jotted note that reads Claudius, What next? - MAGNUS CHASE.

Then, since he's already inside, he figures, why not wander around until he finds someone to talk to?

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[onthewillowsthere]

He tries to remember how it felt to be jealous, when he thought Claudius was sleeping with other people because he wasn't enough -- how it felt to think someone he cared about so much had to look elsewhere, and found it easy to do so, as if in being insufficient he had also become less important, and might lose Claudius' interest altogether. He imagines how it would feel if he were separated from Claudius, and then, when they were rejoined, to find Claudius had made new friends and a new life in in his absence. That wouldn't be the same, he thinks immediately, because Claudius needs people. It would be ridiculous to expect him to keep some long and silent vigil alone; he could never be happy like that. He would fade like a plant with no sunlight to feed its leaves.

But perhaps it's easy to know that in his heart, and harder to feel the truth of it if he were faced with Claudius, happy without him. Easy to want Claudius to find that happiness, and hard not to feel replaced. Alex doesn't know how much Magnus talks about her, or how dreamy his voice gets when he's remembering some amazing thing she did or how she looked, or the way he tried to describe her so Galahad could draw her picture. Like a beautiful poison dart frog. It would be easy to be hurt, and not know how much Magnus misses her.

[summerdude]

"She hates that I've decided to stay," quietly. "Even though she understands my reasons."

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad has also probably thought about this exact subject more than the average person -- that, the merit of sacrificing oneself for the world. Magnus staying here is to protect his home, and all the people he loves there. It's a choice that Galahad has always considered simple; but then, he's never thought about the people on the other side of that choice before. There haven't been people on the other side, except Percival, who knew and understood what he meant to do.

Now -- he thinks he can understand Alex. Perhaps not agree, but understand. He nods. "Even if it's the right thing to do, she might lose you."

[summerdude]

Magnus nods. "Neither of us wanted to break up, at least, I guess," he says, with a heavy sigh.

[onthewillowsthere]

"Is break up when you aren't lovers anymore?"

[summerdude]

"Yeah, it's when you decide to end the relationship."

[onthewillowsthere]

"But you're still apart."

[summerdude]

"Yeah." The huff of laughter Magnus gives at that is pretty wet-sounding. "Worlds flipping apart."

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad pulls him into a fresh hug, squeezing him tight.

[summerdude]

"Sorry," Magnus says, with another huffy little laugh. "It's just -- I miss her so much, you know? Hanguang-jun said that he could send his brother letters that his brother can read, even if he couldn't get anything back. But Alex told me that when I try to pass out and have visions of how she's doing, they're like, at least, semi-accurate, so they're probably working, but she can't tell I'm there like she sometimes can when we're both in the Nine Worlds."

[onthewillowsthere]

"I know," softly, and then, "I'm sorry."

[summerdude]

"It's fine," Magnus says, and laughs again, hysteria edging the sound. Forever is a long time when you're only twenty-five years into it!!! "Distract me?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"I found a recipe I want to try," immediately. "Will you help me?"

[summerdude]

"Yes," immediately.

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad makes sure Dro isn't about to get trampled, and gets to his feet, offering Magnus his hand.

[summerdude]

Magnus takes it, climbing to his feet. "Should we leave her here or bring her?" he asks, glancing at Drosera.

[onthewillowsthere]

"We should bring her. If she chews on Claudius' things he'll be upset."

[summerdude]

"Oh, good call. We don't want him upset with his stepdaughter," distracted, as he leans over to coax her into his arms and then onto his shoulder.

[onthewillowsthere]

"He talks about her. He asks me how she is. Yesterday he wondered if she'd like catmint from his garden in spring." This is proof that Claudius loves Dro, which is why he's telling Magnus.

[summerdude]

"He's a good stepdad," says Magnus, more purposefully this time. Secretly he's a little disappointed; Claudius got so flustered when Magnus called him Dro's stepdad to his face!

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad is completely oblivious to what Magnus is suggesting by use of the term stepfather, largely because he and Magnus are Dro's mothers, and they're not married -- if he did make the connection, he'd be equally as flustered as Claudius. As it is, he just nods; he likes the sprawling family they've created for Drosera. "He is good. He loves the rabbits too."

[summerdude]

"I've still got to meet them," Magnus says; as it turns out, he'll be running into them a little later that same day. "They sound really cute though." As they walk, Dro starts nuzzling her beak in his hair, and he tries not to squirm. "I wonder if more animals are going to keep turning up now?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Is there another one you want?"

[summerdude]

"Just Alex," Magnus says, without even thinking about it, and then he has to stop and laugh at himself. "I'm sorry, man, I don't mean to be such a sad sack."

[onthewillowsthere]

He shakes his head. "You miss her."