I Lived, Grinch! [open post]

[summerdude]

The first thing Magnus does -- with Alex's help -- after fully healing is board up the hole in the side of the greenhouse where the cheetah ran through. The second thing, once he learns the full scope of Dark (it's different at camp; he'd already taken out a ton of camp-appropriate food for when Galahad and Laertes couldn't make it out there, and so he and Alex have been fine on the eating front) is go to the greenhouse again to figure out what plants in there yield edible produce. (Also, he tries to scrub his blood off the table. It... partially works?)

Partly it's that he's still feeling weird after the whole affair. The season doesn't help, but he does feel closer to his own mortality than pretty much any point since he died for real the first time. Being around growing plants helps that. Mostly, though, it's because he doesn't want anyone to get, like, scurvy living on bushels of rice alone.

He doesn't want to overtax any of the plants, but some can be cajoled into fruiting. Right now, he's got his hand on a kumquat tree, and he's trying to convince it that it can speed up the growth process by a few weeks. Drosera is with him, 'helping:' she's found a dead leaf, and she's chasing it down the pathway between some plants. If anyone shows up -- either because they've heard of his near-death experience and want to check in on him, or just to hang out, or even because they're drawn by the way it looks like sunlight is coming from the greenhouse itself -- he'll be glad for the company.

Comments

[summerdude]

Magnus nods against Lan Wangji's chest, resolute. "I've been carrying him ever since," he says. "But I guess maybe I should stay in practice."

[lightbearinglord]

This isn't quite a sigh, but Lan Wangji does indulge in a frustrated little exhale. "Jack can move on his own. Must you wield him?"

[summerdude]

"Shouldn't I?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Will that keep you safer than Jack defending you with his own power?"

[summerdude]

Magnus presses his lips together. He's glad Hanguang-jun is still holding him; it makes it feel easier to admit, "If he was flying by himself I don't think he would have gotten close enough in time to stop any of it from happening."

[lightbearinglord]

"Do whatever will keep you safest for now. I will continue to investigate." If he can resolve this quickly, then perhaps Magnus can return to pursuing his life of peace.

[summerdude]

"Yes, sir."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji would like to say that he is sorry it has come to this, and he is, but that will do nothing for Magnus. He shuts his eyes and resumes the gentle path of his hand on Magnus' back.

[summerdude]

"Maybe it could be fun?" Magnus says, aiming for cheerful and landing somewhere around 'doubtful.' "You guys have sword forms, right? Could you show me some I don't know? If I'm learning something new, maybe it'll be, like. New." Not now though, now is for Hug-guang-jun.

[lightbearinglord]

"I will teach you," Lan Wangji agrees without hesitation. "We should commence calligraphy lessons, too."

[summerdude]

"Yes please," Magnus says immediately. He closes his eyes, resting his face against Lan Wangji's chest. It's hitting him, now, how on-edge he's been for the past few weeks.

[lightbearinglord]

Magnus' hair is far too short again, now, but Lan Wangji strokes it anyway, pushing a few unruly locks back into place. His chest is tight, like something crushing emanating from where Magnus' cheek is pressed to the front of his robes. "Would Galahad like to join us?"

[summerdude]

"Definitely for calligraphy. He might get, like, sad or whatever if we ask about the sword forms."

[lightbearinglord]

"For calligraphy," Lan Wangji confirms. That is what he meant in the first place. He doubts Galahad needs any assistance with improving his swordsmanship regardless.

[summerdude]

"Alex too?" Alex is artistic. She might like to do calligraphy on her pots or something.

[lightbearinglord]

"If Alex would like." There's a tiny pause, and then he adds, "Whatever you want."

[summerdude]

There's a lot of things Magnus wants, and even more things he wants to say, but even in the safety of Lan Wangji's arms, they feel difficult to ask for. To buy himself a little time and space, he says, "Well, you know what they say. The pen is mightier than the sword, or whatever." Then he pauses. "Brush? The brush is mightier than the sword?"

[lightbearinglord]

Magnus knows many things that Lan Wangji does not, including idioms from, presumably, far in the future, so he only agrees, serenely: "The brush is mightier than the sword." He might argue that they are equally mighty, and that the selection is a matter of the circumstances, but he keeps that thought silent.

[summerdude]

Magnus nods. "Hanguang-jun?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn?" Lan Wangji prompts, on the assumption that Magnus is about to, reasonably, ask for his freedom from this very extended embrace.

[summerdude]

But Magnus nestles closer. "I was really scared," he says, and then, very quietly, "I'm still really scared."

[lightbearinglord]

In that case, Lan Wangji resettles his arms around Magnus, slipping the hand at the back of his head to grip his shoulder instead. He gives himself another quiet moment before he answers, low and grim. "I was, too."

[summerdude]

"I don't..." Magnus trails off, pauses for a good few moments. "Want to imagine that it was on purpose."

[lightbearinglord]

"Nor do I." It may be lucky, just now, that Magnus is hardy enough to withstand the strength with which Lan Wangji is holding him. He would not allow himself this lapse of control with anyone but Magnus or Wei Ying. "I would promise your safety if I could. I can only promise my protection, for what it is worth."

[summerdude]

"It's worth a lot, da--sir." Magnus inhales. It is not a sniffle. "Thank you for not making an empty promise."