Perhaps Instead Of A Homeless Teen I Shoulda Been A 19th Century Newsboy, Given All These Headlines

[summerdude]

It's been a big few days in general, and this day, specifically, has also been pretty big, and so Magnus does the number two thing that reliably lets him reach a place where he feels more grounded: he goes to Hanguang-jun's parlor at a time when Hanguang-jun is also there playing music. (Number one, of course, is burying his face against Alex's belly and groaning. Number three, embarrassingly, is still finding a summery spot outside and praying to his dad.)

This time, he has a stack of comic books to go through -- he wants to start making tailored recommendation lists, for Tally and Lancelot (who he's made general recommendations to), but also for Galahad and Sagramore and Sunny and Hanguang-jun and Gideon and Shen Yuan and Gu Xiang and Tress and Nina. So he lays on the ground for a while, paging through issues while Hanguang-jun quietly picks out a tune on his qin and Danding nibbles his hair.

But after about half an hour, he's still got excitement and overstimulation brimming through his veins, so he sets Sensational She-Hulk #39 to one side (it's definitely going on Lancelot's list, probably also Tally's, possibly also Gideon's), twists his head, and waits for a lull in the music. When it comes, he says, "Hanguang-jun? I have... stuff. Not crisisy stuff. Mostly good stuff, and also... some questionsy stuff."

Comments

[lightbearinglord]

"Wei Ying will eat anything," Lan Wangji says primly, as if he could possibly pretend that he will not be delighted to try whatever Magnus cooks.

[summerdude]

"I know," Magnus says, grin widening. "He gave me my first-ever cooking lesson, remember?"

[lightbearinglord]

Lan Wangji remembers. His mouth twitches. "It is fortunate that I intervened."

[summerdude]

"Hanguang-jun!" says Magnus, faux-scandalized and all the way delighted. "So snarky."

[lightbearinglord]

"Snarky?" He doesn't always stop Magnus and ask for definitions, but in this case, he is curious enough to do so.

[summerdude]

"Funny-sarcastic and kinda..." Magnus hesitates. He doesn't love to say this word, because he drinks his respect women juice every morning. In fact, it will be only the third time he's used any version of it in his entire time in the mansion. But there's not really a better word to use in this context, so: "...bitchy. In a fun way."

[lightbearinglord]

The very corner of Lan Wangji's mouth quirks up again before it settles. "Mn." He doesn't argue with the assessment. In any case: "Congratulations. I will say the same to Sagramore when next I see him."

[summerdude]

Magnus wants to hasten to clarify that this doesn't mean anything about his and Hanguang-jun's relationship -- that he can be adopted more than once. But Hanguang-jun just said that he wants to do similar duties to Sagramore, and he's called the two of them family several times, so Magnus stays his tongue. "Thanks," he says instead, grinning. "I didn't really expect it, but I'm pretty happy about it." His grin widens. "I warned him Alex is gonna interrogate the crap out of him."

[lightbearinglord]

"She will," Lan Wangji agrees, having already been subjected to thorough, if slightly subtler, examination by Alex. "But I anticipate she will find him satisfactory." He is very fond of Sagramore, who is an immensely kind man and a good friend.

[summerdude]

"I don't know what this means about me and Laertes," Magnus adds, because Hanguang-jun did say he should come to him about his confusions. "Since he and Sagramore are, you know, married, but he's also just a few years older than me. He's been calling us 'brothers' recently, and I hadn't really thought about anything different, but..."

[lightbearinglord]

"You will have to speak with young master Laertes," Lan Wangji says, perhaps predictably. He can make guesses. He knows how Sagramore likes to gather family about him, and how much his marriage means to him. He knows how much it means to both of them. It is not difficult to surmise that he will want Magnus to belong to them both, particularly if he is to consider himself Sunny's sibling. But he cannot speak for them. "Would you like him to be your father as well?"

[summerdude]

"Oh, I know I will," Magnus says. To the question, though, he hesitates. "I... I don't know. I didn't start considering it, like, at all, until about an hour ago."

[lightbearinglord]

"There are only thirteen years between my age and yours," Lan Wangji points out. And, he does not say, Magnus is, in many ways that matter, still sixteen.

[summerdude]

"Yeah, but that's different, that's like a whole generation." Probably. What even is a generation? "Laertes could've been in school with me, if he was also from Boston and also my era." He pauses. "It's not, like, a no. Or a yes. I think I need to wrap my brain around it before I talk to him."

[lightbearinglord]

This seems reasonable enough. Lan Wangji nods. Xiaoxue, noticing the absence of movement from Lan Wangji's hands, has been creeping nearer in hopes of snacks or attention. Lan Wangji obliges, stroking the rabbit's cheek with two fingers without looking away from Magnus. "I understand."

[summerdude]

"I just don't want to, like. Upset anyone if I wrap my mind around it and my mind decides, 'hmmmmm, maybe not.'"

[lightbearinglord]

Another little nod. With some caution, then, Lan Wangji says, "You are free to make whatever decision you wish to make, but I would advise you to be gentle with young master Laertes' feelings on the matter."

[summerdude]

"Yeah, that's my point. I want to be honest, but I don't know what honest is, yet, and I don't want to hurt anyone with whatever it is. Or by not knowing."

[lightbearinglord]

"Of course." He pets Xiaoxue's little head, fond both of the rabbit and of Magnus for his kind nature. "You are permitted to take your time."

[summerdude]

"Thanks, Hanguang-jun."

[lightbearinglord]

"You're welcome," he says, with sincerity. He pauses again, and then asks, "Was that your... questionsy stuff?" The phrase does not sound natural coming out of his mouth.

[summerdude]

"No, but the questionsy stuff I'm pretty sure is gonna bring down the, like, tone in here."

[lightbearinglord]

That in itself has Lan Wangji sitting straighter, his gaze sharpening with wariness. "Magnus," he prompts, presuming the name alone will be enough to indicate that Magnus should ask his questions, even if the tone in the room does worsen.

[summerdude]

"Okay." Magnus sits up a little straighter, fiddling with the hem of his t-shirt. "You know how you said I should come to you, right? If I have, like. Questions, or concerns... things like that? Times where I might be jumping to conclusions and need to check on something?"

[lightbearinglord]

"Yes." With a very small and fleeting frown, Lan Wangji sets his qin carefully to the side. It seems improper to leave a barrier between himself and Magnus during whatever discussion they are about to have.