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

[summerdude]

"Do you want to be a bride?"

[onthewillowsthere]

There's a sudden, rose flush in his cheeks. "I want him to be."

[summerdude]

Magnus clocks the blush from vantage point in Galahad's lap, and reaches up to poke his cheek. "Why?" he asks, a teasing note in his voice.

[onthewillowsthere]

The blush deepens. "He said... he told me femininity is a chore he likes. He said he once imagined himself as the divine androgyne. I want to see him like that. If-- if he's both, then he can be the bride and the bridegroom."

[summerdude]

"Claudius is nonbinary?!" Magnus considers sitting up, but he's so comfortable. "He should talk to Alex." Which is something he can say now. He grins. "Who isn't nonbinary, but who has other relevant experience."

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad hesitates. "Don't tell anyone. I don't know whether he wants anyone to know."

[summerdude]

"Dude, I would never out anyone," Magnus says, earnestly. He focuses on the other most important thing at hand: "Does that mean that you think Claudius should wear a wedding dress?"

[onthewillowsthere]

Now he's just pink everywhere. "I would like-- he would be beautiful."

[summerdude]

"Oh yeah, sure," says Magnus, who only has eyes for Alex and triply so now that he's here. "What kind of dress? Big and puffy, or, like, slinky?" He tilts his head. Galahad has been wearing skirts more and more frequently since their day trying on clothes. "Do you wanna wear a dress too?"

[onthewillowsthere]

Too many questions, he signs quickly. I want him to choose his dress. If he wants to.

[summerdude]

Sorry, immediately contrite. He waits a moment before asking again: What about you?

[onthewillowsthere]

I haven't thought yet.

[summerdude]

Magnus nods, accepting this. It's still early days. How long of an engagement do you think you'll have?

[onthewillowsthere]

He hesitates. I want him to enjoy it? I want it to be as long as he likes.

[summerdude]

Personally, Magnus doesn't get why someone would have a long engagement unless they were waiting for, like, a nice venue or whatever, but he nods wisely anyway.

[onthewillowsthere]

It doesn't matter to me. It will make him happy to plan the wedding and do all the things Lady Post says to do during an engagement.

[summerdude]

This is not the first, or the second, or even the third time Galahad has mentioned Lady Post. Magnus decides, finally, to ask for clarification. "Lady Post?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Lady Emily Post wrote books of etiquette."

[summerdude]

"Like George Washington?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"The American president?" Galahad knows about George Washington only very obliquely, because of that one biography of Zachary Taylor he read before he realized he didn't enjoy biographies.

[summerdude]

"Yeah, the first one. He wrote a book on etiquette. I think?"

[onthewillowsthere]

He looks a bit nonplussed. "Why?"

[summerdude]

"Heck if I know." Magnus shrugs and finally, finally sits up, scooting so that he's sitting next to Galahad and leaning heavily against him, instead of lying with his head in his lap. "Why does anyone do anything? I bet I could write a book on Viking etiquette. 'Kill as many people as you can on the field of battle and if you're gonna die, make sure you have a weapon in hand.' That kind of thing."

[onthewillowsthere]

"No, etiquette is how you should kill them, to be polite."

[summerdude]

A flash of a smile. "I probably shouldn't tell you this story," Magnus says. "Because Alex is here and can tell it himself, if he wants. But she died in the politest way possible, according to the Norse. She was protecting this guy from magic murder-wolves" -- in fact, probably the same kind that killed Magnus's mom -- "and gave him a weapon to defend himself. He managed to kill one of them after she died. It went over so well in Valhalla. She was definitely the afterlife favorite for a while." He pauses. "So then maybe 'Give your brethren weapons, so that they might kill as many people on the field of battle as they can, so they can also prove their valor.'"