I Deliberately Misinterpret The Nature Of An Agreement

[summerdude]

Galahad probably didn't expect Magnus to come pounding on his door in the middle of the day when they agreed Magnus would try sleeping on his own, especially since Magnus decided pretty quickly that he wanted to sleep outside again (but on purpose because he prefers it, not because it feels like the only option that doesn't end with the walls closing in on him). But here Magnus is, anyway, in the middle of the day, knocking loud enough that he has to force himself to take a step back so he doesn't break the door down.

"Dude, it's me, I need you," he calls, just so Galahad knows for sure it's him, or whatever. "You're in there, right? Galahad?"

Comments

[onthewillowsthere]

It's not at all a guarantee that Galahad will be in the room during the day -- he and Claudius both have plenty to do, and he's been actively seeking out people to draw for his hagiographies -- but Magnus is lucky. This fast has has been harder than usual, perhaps because of the long winter season (Lent and Easter are very early this year, but not so early that Galahad can't tell the seasons here are shifted, elongated, like a ball of dough being rolled out into something great and thin), and Galahad is got up long enough to make sure Claudius had breakfast and then went back to bed.

He gets up when he hears the knocking -- only one person has the strength to pound on the door like that -- and goes to open it for Magnus.

[summerdude]

"Dude," says Magnus, stumbling inside and walking straight into Galahad's arms. "Dude. Dude. Holy fucking shit. Dude? Dude." A pause, while he tries to get his bearings, and then: "Dude."

[onthewillowsthere]

If it were anyone else, Galahad would think this was distress. But he knows Magnus. He knows Magnus so well. "Did she come back?"

[summerdude]

"She's back," Magnus says, and bursts into tears.

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad squeezes him, pulling him as close as he possibly can.

[summerdude]

"She's really, really here again. I pinched myself and everything."

[onthewillowsthere]

"Is she going to stay?"

[summerdude]

Magnus sniffles. "She said yeah," he says. He's smiling so big his face hurts again. "For good this time."

[onthewillowsthere]

He squeezes Magnus again.

[summerdude]

"Dude."

[onthewillowsthere]

"I'm glad."

[summerdude]

"I'm getting you all snotty," Magnus realizes, and he pulls back and fumbles in his pocket for a tissue.

[onthewillowsthere]

"It's all right." He's wearing an oversized sweater and leggings, so he hasn't got pockets, or he'd have a handkerchief.

[summerdude]

Magnus finds one, blows his nose, and shoves it back in his pocket. Then he sits on the floor, almost like a puppet with its strings cut. "I think today is the happiest I've been in months," he says, and then his eyes, still shining and damp, grow wide. "We can have our double date now!!"

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad's own eyes widen at the realization as he sinks down slowly across from Magnus.

[summerdude]

"And real charades, and oh, hey, maybe I can make out with him for two straight hours while you and Claudius clean up next to us, and--" Magnus pauses to take a shuddery little breath and then flops over, wiggling until he can put his head in Galahad's lap and look up at him, upside-down. "Dude." He sniffles again.

[onthewillowsthere]

He starts to protest that it wasn't actually two hours before he realizes that Magnus is exaggerating on purpose. Instead he combs his fingers through Magnus' hair, looking down at him. Then he signs overwhelmed?

[summerdude]

An emphatic nod.

[onthewillowsthere]

That makes perfect sense. Galahad goes back to combing through his hair, saying nothing, but ready to listen if Magnus decides to speak further.

[summerdude]

Magnus's words have fully escaped him; he used them all on Alex. He can't stop smiling, though, and sniffling. In a shockingly Claudius-like move, he raises his hands to try to sign something, but they flutter around his chest, and all he gets out is love, love, love.

[onthewillowsthere]

It's so Claudius-like that for a moment something in Galahad aches. He signs back Alex, Alex, fingers flying through the letters.

[summerdude]

Eventually, fumbling, fingers feeling thick and stiff, Magnus gets it together enough to sign, Alex is getting settled right now -- an explanation for why he's here with Galahad, instead of following Alex to make sure she doesn't disappear again. Of course, what he means is that Alex is likely off wrecking havoc in all corners of this weird little world, and another blissful smile settles over his features at the thought.

[onthewillowsthere]

Your vision. It was a portent.

[summerdude]

Magnus blinks. He'd nearly forgotten about that. "Well, fuck me," he says.

[onthewillowsthere]

Right?