I Up My Boyfriend Game With The Help Of My F̶a̶t̶h̶e̶r̶ Bother Figures [closed post]

[summerdude]

Magnus shows up to the kitchen earlier than the agreed-upon time, since he's actually really excited to fold tamales (and learn how to prep the individual components thereof) with a couple of his favorite people. When he gets there, he remembers having to teach Galahad about hand-washing, and thinks about the fact that both Sagramore and Lan Wangji are from old-timey places. When they arrive, they'll find him scrubbing down the countertops, making sure they have a clean workspace.

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[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji watches Magnus disappear with equal fondness and concern. He will not follow him, if he needs a moment alone. He is intimately familiar with how easy it can be for one's emotions to reach an overwhelming pitch. In any case, the water is beginning to boil, so he could not abandon it even if he wanted to.

[sagramore]

"Christ, he's such a good boy," Sagramore murmurs, to Lan Wangji and himself.

[summerdude]

Magnus, in the pantry, is doing a little deep breathing, and rummaging through the shelves for an excuse.

[lightbearinglord]

At that, Lan Wangji lets his gaze catch on Sagramore's again. The very corner of his mouth curls upward, just for a moment. "Mn."

[sagramore]

He laughs. "The best heart, and now I understand about six words in ten that he says, too."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji affects the appearance of thinking quite seriously about this. Or he might truly be thinking so seriously; there is no way to tell. "I believe I have achieved seven out of ten."

[sagramore]

"Jesu save us! You're a true scholar of Magnus."

[lightbearinglord]

His attention flicks toward the pantry door, his features softening. "He is dear to me." It has the feeling of a grievous understatement, but he has already, apparently, misstepped by mentioning Sizhui the once. A further explanation of Magnus' importance to him would require too much more of that.

[sagramore]

"I see that."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji lingers in that for a little longer, but he does have tasks at hand. He gives Sagramore a little nod of mutual understanding, then sets to gathering up a test batch of tamales to steam. Magnus suggested one of each, but the steamer is so large that that seems like a waste, so he opts for two of each.

[sagramore]

Sagramore casts another fond look at the pantry and resumes folding, doing his best to heed Magnus' advice and use slightly less filling this time.

[summerdude]

Magnus emerges eventually with a bright smile and a little thing of turbinado sugar that he might arguably sprinkle on the sweet tamales. "Hey," he says, dangling it from his fingertips. "'Sup."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji, who was in the middle of covering the tamales and then reducing the flame on the burner, glances toward Magnus with a fresh iteration of that gently fond look. "Magnus," he says, as solemnly as if they are just now meeting for the first time today.

[sagramore]

"The man of the hour. Actually, how long have we been here? An hour?"

[summerdude]

Magnus shrugs. If Sagramore wants a watch, he should probably give Galahad another shot. "Do we need sugar?" he asks.

[lightbearinglord]

"It has been nearly a shichen," Lan Wangji volunteers, before amending that, remembering that most people here measure time differently than he does and that he went to the library about that, too: "Two hours."

[sagramore]

"Thank you! I never have any idea. As to the sugar-- for sprinkling on top? It's a bit too late for anything else."

[summerdude]

Magnus shrugs. "I dunno," he says. Oh no, his flimsy excuse is growing flimsier! "I guess I'm just trying to figure out this cooking stuff." There, nailed it.

[lightbearinglord]

The kindest thing to do here, clearly, is to pretend that he believes Magnus without question and ask no further questions. As such, Lan Wangji says nothing, aside from an indulgent "Mn," and settles the lid firmly onto the steamer pot.

[sagramore]

"I, for one, am looking forward to the fruits of our labors."

[summerdude]

"Yeah," says Magnus, and then he brightens. He'd sort of forgotten that they'd eat the tamales at the end of this -- that it isn't just some kind of intricate ritual to try and get whatever powers that be to bring Alex back so she can enjoy them.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji is also looking forward to it, especially to the part where Magnus tells him whether any of it tastes as it should. Also, if they are at least moderately edible, this volume of tamales will feed several people. "Are there other Mexican dishes you want to learn above the rest?"

[sagramore]

Sagramore listens as he continues trying to be reasonable about the amount of filling in his corn husks.

[summerdude]

"Oh, street food, definitely. More street food, that is. Probably any street food. Me and Alex, we're big street food fans." Magnus tilts his head. "Is street food even a word anymore? Street food. Streeeeet food."

[lightbearinglord]

"If it becomes possible, I will take the two of you to Yunmeng." As those tester tamales steam, Lan Wangji returns to the primary task so that he can help Magnus and Sagramore finish wrapping the stragglers.