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

[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."

[lightbearinglord]

"You're welcome," Lan Wangji says, quietly. He would have preferred to make that empty promise, but not at the expense of the truth. "I'm here."

[summerdude]

"I know." Magnus squeezes him even tighter.

[lightbearinglord]

The inexorable grip Magnus has on him is comforting. He knows the way that corpses lose all their strength and vigor. Magnus is as alive as he can be. Lan Wangji focuses all his attention on settling his arms around him and on, for as long as he needs, maintaining the illusion of safety amidst all of his uncertainty and their shared fear.

[summerdude]

Magnus stays close for another few minutes, trying to relax but mostly clinging. Then: "Hanguang-jun?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Magnus?" Lan Wangji prompts him again.

[summerdude]

"Is there a way I can reach you fast? If I need to? That you know of?" He's working on options for reaching Galahad, but -- he wants to be able to get hold of Lan Wangji, too.

[lightbearinglord]

"After the corpses attacked, I gave Claudius a signal flare so that he can alert me if he is in danger. Wei Ying may be able to create another for you." It would ease him, to some extent, just as it eases him to know that Claudius carries his.

[summerdude]

"Can you ask him?" Magnus pauses for a moment. "And maybe one for Galahad too?"

[lightbearinglord]

"I will ask." Lan Wangji sets a hand at the back of Magnus' head again, stroking his hair. He asked for that, once; he may want it again now, whether he can say it aloud or not.

[summerdude]

Magnus does. He shudders, a little, and then relaxes, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly.

[lightbearinglord]

There it is. Lan Wangji doesn't let go of Magnus, but he loosens his hold a small amount, to something more comfortable, easier. He continues smoothing Magnus' hair with that hand, even little motions.

[summerdude]

Magnus lets himself be quiet. The fear is crowding in on him again, but it's not hitting him like he was worried it would -- he knows he's alright, like this. Hanguang-jun is different from Alex and Galahad, but the effect of being around him is the same. It's not that it feels like nothing can get to him here, it's that he knows that if something tries, he has someone powerful in his corner who loves him. He lets his eyes drift shut and clings.

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji knows that Magnus is strong, quick of mind and body, and capable. He has witnessed that, and felt it for himself in the force with which they can embrace one another. If the universe here ordered itself as it should, as he is accustomed to it doing, he could rest easily with full faith in him. Here, though, there are unidentifiable shadows in the night, a tempestuous emperor who could poison the blood of half the mansion with a well-placed drop of his own if he willed it, ill-intended swords that strike with no master in sight.

Magnus says that Lan Wangji's protection is worth a lot. Lan Wangji is not so certain, but he holds Magnus, and doesn't falter, and waits patiently for him to feel able to face the world outside of Lan Wangji's arms.

[summerdude]

"Thanks," Magnus mumbles, after a good while. He's starting to feel mildly normal again. He hasn't done this in a while -- hugged an adult-shaped adult until the world felt better. It's probably been since he was fourteen, honestly. It feels... weird. Good-weird.

[lightbearinglord]

Thanking him for this seems utterly frivolous, but Lan Wangji will not object. He draws back enough to see Magnus' face, studying it. "You're welcome."

[summerdude]

Magnus's face is a little rumpled, and his eyes are shining. "I haven't been held like that since, like. My mom."

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji's own face softens in answer to that, a quiet little sadness and a sudden cognizance of how raw this admission might feel for Magnus. He has no interest in trying to replace Magnus' mother. He thinks he himself might bite anyone who tried the same for him. But he is here, and she is not. He reaches to tuck a disheveled lock of hair away from Magnus' forehead. "I am glad to care for you in her stead."

[summerdude]

"Me, too," says Magnus, which is when he starts sniffling (manly sniffling. Totally normal and manly sniffling. He's fine) in earnest.

[lightbearinglord]

Overpoweringly fond, feeling almost weakened by it, Lan Wangji shifts that hand and uses the draping edge of his sleeve to gently dab at the gathering tears at the corners of Magnus' eyes. He doesn't say anything else.

[summerdude]

"I don't know why I'm acting like this," Magnus says, still sniffly, after a moment. "I'm fine."

[lightbearinglord]

"Magnus," Lan Wangji says, as gentle as he knows how to sound. "You nearly died."

[summerdude]

Magnus shudders. "Oh yeah," he says. "I guess that does hit different these days."

[lightbearinglord]

"Mn." Quietly attentive, Lan Wangji dries Magnus' eyes for him again. This is another little thing that he can do for him in the absence of his mother, who would certainly do the same.