New Plan, Step One: Provide For My Community [open]

[summerdude]

Magnus needs something to change, so when a Mansion calendar helpfully informs him that it's International Falafel Day back on Earth, he goes to the library for some cookbooks, and then to the kitchen.

He lays out ten different falafel recipes. He gathers the ingredients they list, as best as he can understand them. He has canned chickpeas and fresh chickpeas and dried chickpeas and chickpea flour and box mixes of falafel that say 'just add water!'

Cripes.

"I can do this," he says, peering at the assorted recipes intently for a good ten minutes, and then takes the dried chickpeas over to the sink to rinse and soak.

Comments

[onthewillowsthere]

"Lan Wangji?"

[summerdude]

"Yeah. Him."

[onthewillowsthere]

"I am envious that you're helping Claudius with the spring planting." He rubs the braided band of his watch. "I'm sad that-- things have changed."

[summerdude]

"Yeah." Magnus fiddles with his necklace. "I kinda like being Farm Guy? I've been helping Uncle D, too. It's nice because, like, I can do something for everyone but if I take a break it's fine." He sighs. "I also know you want someone with Claudius while you can't be there, so." He's swinging his legs, his heels thudding lightly against the cabinets below. "I'm also, like. Sad things have changed. I don't like it."

[onthewillowsthere]

"I miss you. I'm sorry I haven't looked for you."

[summerdude]

Magnus can't stop noticing that these jeans are getting worn. He's pretty sure the knees are going to split sooner rather than later. He really should go back to Kade for another mending lesson. "I miss you so much," he says, quietly. "I'm sorry I keep telling myself I shouldn't, like, interrupt."

[onthewillowsthere]

"Will you make falafel with me? And tell me about everything?"

[summerdude]

"Only if you make falafel with me and also tell me everything."

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad picks up the bowl of unshelled chickpeas and hands it to Magnus up on the counter.

[summerdude]

Magnus takes the bowl, sets it to the side, and slides off. He's gonna get another hug in before they do anything.

[onthewillowsthere]

That's fine, Galahad wants that hug. He slips his arms around Magnus' waist and leans on him, holding him as tightly as he can. Again, he has biceps now! Thanks, Lan Wangji!

[summerdude]

Magnus notices this, too. "Getting strong, huh," he says, tucking his chin over Galahad's shoulder and slumping fully against him.

[onthewillowsthere]

"Soon Lan Wangji will teach me to fly on my sword," Galahad says seriously.

[summerdude]

"Wait. Really?" There's another tiny flare of jealousy. Magnus tamps it down. He can fly on a sword too. Well, fly dangling from a sword. If he's willing to pass out about it later.

[onthewillowsthere]

"No."

[summerdude]

"Dude," Magnus complains. Half-complains. "I'm too gullible for your jokes, man."

[onthewillowsthere]

"You need to practice. Be a Jokes Guy."

[summerdude]

"Will you help me with that?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Yes. I will help you with anything."

[summerdude]

"Good." Magnus gives Galahad another squeeze. "Where should we start?" (He means, of course, with everything: reconnecting, dealing with the way things have changed, making the falafel...)

[onthewillowsthere]

"Lan Wangji says there are four gentlemanly arts. Calligraphy, painting, weiqi, and playing the qin. You don't have to train with us. We could both be his students."

[summerdude]

"I know," Magnus says, but instead of matter-of-fact he sounds mostly -- surprised? He'd sort of forgotten. No, not forgotten, just... set the memory aside. "He's been teaching me meditation and he keeps promising to teach us calligraphy together."

[onthewillowsthere]

"We talked about it during Dark," he agrees. "When things were bad."

[summerdude]

"That's right," Magnus says. Yes, with another squeeze.

[onthewillowsthere]

"I would like to."