I'm About As Organized As Ran, I Guess? [closed post]

[summerdude]

"And then we realized Frigg was knitting with clouds. Actual factual clouds," Magnus says, passing another box that, as it turns out, holds nothing useful down to Galahad. He climbs up another rung on the little stepladder and starts in on the next shelf. "How many boxes of Legos do we have so far?" He knows it's certainly not enough for a bachelorette party yet, but surely there's something they can go on. He'd kind of tonight that this far after Dark, there would be... more? "Do you think we should find another room to look in? Maybe the game room isn't the best choice."

Comments

[summerdude]

"Why?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Because of him." He knows Magnus knows who he means.

[summerdude]

And Magnus can't tell him that Claudius won't need the protection, because Magnus -- probably the most resilient semi-human dude in this world -- nearly died. "I'm sorry," he say, fervently, giving Galahad another squeeze. "I'm so sorry."

[onthewillowsthere]

With everyone else, Galahad has been composed about this change to his life -- but it's different with Magnus. Magnus understands. He holds back as tightly as he can, burying his face in Magnus' hair, and just lets himself be sad.

[summerdude]

"I love you," Magnus murmurs, stroking from Galahad's hair down to his back again and again. "Anything you need, okay, buddy? Anything at all."

[onthewillowsthere]

"Thank you," closer to a whisper.

[summerdude]

Magnus will hug Galahad until Galahad pulls away, and he settles in to it.

[onthewillowsthere]

That ends up being a while! Galahad is, now that he's just letting himself feel it, really sad. This isn't how he meant to spend the rest of his life, and the small anxiety that Claudius might not love him as much like this, without the strength and prowess that Claudius has admired so many times, is beginning to get less small.

Finally, though, he lets go and takes Magnus' hands instead. "Will you help me find a scabbard?"

[summerdude]

"Yeah, dude, of course," says Magnus immediately. "Where do you wanna start?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"The basement. We can look for Legos at the same time."

[summerdude]

"Perfect." Magnus starts off toward the stairs, Galahad's hand still tight in his.

[onthewillowsthere]

All else aside, it does feel better to be doing this with Magnus; he's grateful that Magnus knows. They're best friends. It's right for him to know.

[summerdude]

Magnus keeps darting little looks at Galahad as they walk, trying to get a sense of where he's at. His sense is: not great, actually? Magnus might not be Fighting Guy anymore, but he'd fight anything that makes Galahad have to go back to the sword.

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad keeps his gaze straight ahead, but the fingers of his free hand worry at a loose thread at the hem of his shirt. "I'm glad we had sex," he says, after several moments in silence. "I'm not sorry. I don't mind that He punished me."

[summerdude]

"He shouldn't have punished you," says Magnus, stoutly, but he's relieved this isn't the start of a broader pattern of regret.

[onthewillowsthere]

"I would rather disappoint Him than you. Or Claudius. People who matter."

[summerdude]

"Yeah, mood," says Magnus, who has disappointed plenty of gods in his time.

[onthewillowsthere]

Quiet again, for a while. "Hanguang-jun has instructed me to meditate and do exercises. We could do those things together."

[summerdude]

"Yes," says Magnus, immediately. "What kind of exercises?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Lifting rocks. So I become stronger."

[summerdude]

"Oh, weightlifting. Yeah, we can work on our gains together." Magnus might have magical dead-guy muscles but he's obviously going to do everything he possibly can with his best friend.

[onthewillowsthere]

"And standing on one leg to improve my balance."

[summerdude]

"Balance, strength... coordination?"

[onthewillowsthere]

He nods.

[summerdude]

"Hanguang-jun's been teaching me to meditate, too," Magnus says, and then gets distracted from the original question he was going to ask: "Hey, has he been, like, sad lately around you, too? Homesick?"