[ friends are for very strange things, in raphael's opinion.
also, give him a moment to sit very still on the edge of his bed and stare at that message. married is not a word he expected to come up again so soon, and yet there it is, stark and unmistakable. maybe it's... a typo. ]
alright, now i need you to be much more specific.
[ he's so dumbfounded he forgets to say everyone knows you need witnesses when you get married. magnus, please. ]
[ Magnus has never had the pleasure of being in this position, so who knows what he knows about the mechanics of getting married. Maybe he is just being difficult. Perhaps he really doesn't know, given that things doubtless worked much differently when he was still young.
Anyway, friends. Enough kidding around. ]
I very much would like to get married and I can't do so without a witness present.
[ again, give him a moment. you're giving a tired vampire who just recently had a conversation with his best friend about waiting for marriage a lot to process here.
[ 'Waiting' is such an interesting word. You can be totally patient and not want to wait on something. You can be impatient and yet content to let a thing never happen. Has Magnus waited? He has.
And has he not waited? Well... ]
No, I did not. He asked me. [ No one but perhaps Alec himself knows that his hands were shaking when he typed that. ]
[ raphael knows magnus has waited. he knows magnus has spent much of his time waiting, even before the two of them ever met. he may not have ever said so aloud, but he has never thought it fair. while he has filled his afterlife quite satisfactorily with work and political purpose, he can still see the merit in spending immortality with company. he can see how much that would mean to magnus.
and he deserves that. raphael is sure. and while raphael had reassured him that just a little more waiting might be necessary, he doesn't quite mind being proven wrong in this case. ]
[ To that, Magnus has to smile somewhat ruefully. He had given it some thought. Enough that he shared as much with Raphael, which marked a very particular kind of openness that he hasn't practiced in a very long time.
Truth be told, a lot of things are changed for him now. Since coming to Eudio, he's made new friends, immortal and mortal alike, and he's had opportunities to get to know both those people and familiar faces from his own home better than he might have ever had the opportunity had he never come to Eudio alongside them. Alec is one of those people and so is Raphael. Raphael who he's known for decades already. Which might be why Raphael's name came to mind before anyone else's.
Or it's simply because Raphael is his friend and he wants to share this happiness with someone he cares about. ] He is constantly surprising me, Raphael. I love him and I want to spend all the time we can have, together.
[ raphael had been glad of that openness. no, he is not the type to seek out that kind of conversation often, preferring easy company and as close as magnus and raphael can be expected to get to professionalism above that particular emotional intimacy. but it had been good to speak the way they had, to know there was some consolation to be had in their conversation. perhaps eudio is rubbing off on him.
or perhaps their relationship matters to him in ways he may never properly articulate, out of stubbornness or simple inability to form words for that kind of gratitude.
what magnus is asking of him now feels like some small step towards that, however. ]
and when you leave eudio? i'm sure you've thought about it. and on that note, i'm fairly sure you're not going to stop loving him.
[ Theirs is certainly not a typical relationship. From the moment they met onward, it's been a different kind of friendship to any he's ever known. Comprised in part from the knowledge that they uniquely know one another's histories like few others, but also founded in their shared history that from time to time expects a little of that professionalism.
Even if it manifests sometimes in the oddest of ways. Magnus' quirky sass and Raphael's brusque affection...
Perhaps some part of this is Magnus' way of saying that loneliness doesn't have to last forever. Be it friend or lover (or husband, as the case may be), even people like them - whatever that means - can find happiness that's real and lasting. Speaking of: ]
We've talked about it. I have no illusions that it will be easy. But it will be worth it. To say more would certainly be indulging more sentimentality than I'm sure you want to witness at this hour.
I just wanted you to know. It's important to me. [ Important that Raphael know or that everyone know or that he can say it, simply put the thought out there in the air instead of keeping it locked up inside? Maybe all the above. ]
[ there's little chance that their relationship will ever be considered normal to anyone looking in on it, and perhaps not even by their own estimations. it has become normal in the way is has lasted, in the way it has become an ever-present comfort to lean on, in the way it has shaped raphael's life, but it is not "normal." there's charm in that, though. quirky sass and brusque affection do not always make for the best combination, but they have managed to make it work.
he has his reservations about alec, there is no getting around that, but he would be lying to himself if he said he didn't want to see this— this marriage, wow work as well. he has faith that magnus knows what he's doing and that he knows what he wants. he's had enough time to figure it out. ]
as if you are ever short on sentimentality.
[ and then: ]
i know. [ and he's not claiming to know all of magnus' thoughts and feelings—some are not his to know—but he knows this. ]
can i call you?
[ whatever magnus' answer, his phone will ring a moment or two later. ]
[ It means a lot, to have Raphael's support and his insight. Magnus may tease and grouse around in the name of making Raphael fuss, and also because it's a means of communication that's somewhat unique to them. Strange, maybe, but it works. In the end though, it really does mean a lot.
Truthfully, he is on the verge of typing some kind (no doubt very sentimental) of reply when his phone rings. When he answers, one can practically hear the joy that's suffusing every word. In spite of the fact that he's also most definitely indulging that quirky sass of his right out the gate. ]
I think you know I'm nothing if not sentimental, my friend. [ A breath. All the sass is gone and is replaced by what may seem to be sickening fondness. ] Hello, Raphael.
[ He's not apologizing for it. Not in a million years.
Nor for Alec. It's a difficult road for a number of reasons and while he's fond of the idea of people he loves befriending one another, he knows there is a lot... so much that shapes Alec and Raphael's relationship, such as it may be. That may make it all the more meaningful that Raphael is listening to him now. ]
[ miraculously, it does work. and it works well. from the outside, they seem to bicker about as much as or perhaps even more than an old married couple, but so much of their communication happens in subtle ways, in tones and spaces between words. that's what happens when you know someone so well.
he doesn't expect magnus to apologize for alec. there are complications that come with shadowhunters, and this union is not going to make raphael's problems with alec or his family disappear, but magnus has no reason to apologize for his feelings. raphael doesn't expect him to apologize for his fondness, either, no matter how sickening he lets it become. he knows there's no measure of complaining that would make magnus hold back that fondness, but still, he usually complains. he can't just let magnus fawn over him in that ridiculous manner all the time, but at the moment, raphael won't pester him about it.
he won't bother with greetings, either. he called to say something else. ]
Congratulations, Magnus.
[ there's no hiding it; his smile is clear in his voice. there is a long pause before he sighs, like he can't let that hang in the air too long. what of their reputation? ]
Or old friend. Or mi amigo, or whatever stupid endearment you're sure to force on me.
[ One reason Magnus doesn't relent with the fondness and the repetitious utterances of affection - be they teasing words or the so-called stupid endearments. Because it works. They may be an odd pair of friends, but surely anyone who watches them interact for a moment or two could tell they have a lot of affection for each other.
It just manifests in different ways from Raphael to Magnus and vice versa. That's all! ]
Thank you, [ Magnus says, responding in kind. Happy, content. He sounds as though he's where he wants to be, which is something that's a bit new for him. ] I'd be very glad if you'd be there with me. [ Yes, it's overtly affectionate and emotional and who knows what else, but it's important to say it. It may be sudden, yes, but there's a part of him that just doesn't want to let another day pass. Every day in this universe or any other is important. Here, perhaps because Eudio does afford certain freedom.
There's no one barring the way here. But it's not the home they've known for years and years. That home presents a host of obstacles. Maybe having this here and now is important armor for what's to come.
Practically speaking, when they go home, their worlds are most likely going to collide in all sorts of ways. The army that's on the rise will see to that.
Better to take advantage of peace now, isn't it? Magnus has lived far too long not to have some appreciation for the calm before the storm. ]
I like "old friend," you know. Even if it does call attention to my advanced age. It reminds me of all the fond memories I have of us together! [ While he says as much with a benign note in his voice, one can sort of imagine that the "fond memories" he is referencing include things like that time Raphael tried to kick him out of his own dwelling. ]
[ the happiness in magnus' words does not go unnoticed, and there is no mistaking it for what it is: genuine, whole, and transparent. not the illusion of transparency that magnus sometimes hones, either. he's not letting the worry of what comes later—when eudio is behind them all—dampen the excitement of now, and raphael's... glad of that. he has no doubts that complications will arise then, but he has no desire to speak of that anymore now. there's nothing to be done about those complications now beyond their incentives, and besides, this kind of happiness would not be trifled with anyway. raphael knows the stubbornness magnus is capable of.
he also knows that temporary things seem to mean much more in a long, seemingly endless life of temporary things. most things—most people—will find their end long before magnus or raphael, and so there is reason to cherish those fading things even more, to know them even after they've gone.
it's a bittersweet thought, and not one he'll share at the moment. ]
I'd be very offended if you weren't. [ which might suffice as an agreement to do this for magnus, but just so they're clear: ] Yes, I'll be there. [ a pause, so magnus can take that in. ] But I require fair warning if there will be any kissing involved.
[ what a coincidence! that particular memory comes to raphael's mind as well, and he might just smirk to himself where magnus cannot see it. oh, to be roommates again. what more disasters would they run into while trying helplessly to cohabitate as two people with very different ideas about how to conduct day to day life, from how to style one's hair to whether or not sprinting across consecrated ground as a child of the night is a good or bad idea?
short answer: many. ]
"Old friend" is not the only thing that calls attention to your advanced age. And I assume you have a list of fond memories you pour over constantly.
[ Magnus knows more than he'd care to share about the bittersweet nature of thoughts often entertained by immortals about those whose lives are a temporary thing. There are few things he's spent more time consciously ruminating upon, and it would be a lie to say the thought hasn't been interwoven into more than one of his serious conversations with Alec.
They've talked about it. And they've talked about happier things, about the life they could build together. Is Magnus guilty of blind optimism if he says he enjoys the prospect of having a life with Alec? He's not turning his head so he can't see the reality of the situation. That they are from different worlds and the world looks different through either of their eyes. That people who are aligned with Alec want Magnus out of his life, that people who stand for what Magnus stands for stand opposed to the society that raised Alec. He knows these things.
And he knows there's a war waiting that will make each and every one of them all the more noticeable. But he knows just as well that they are both prepared for that, and whatever they aren't prepared for, they'll face together just as well. He has faith in that thought. ]
I wouldn't want to offend you, now would I?
Really, I'm very grateful. [ He sounds warmer and happier still when Raphael agrees to come. ] I really can't imagine this day ending without you being subject to witnessing at least one or two kisses though. Consider yourself forewarned, my friend.
[ He likes to kiss Alec. A lot. And this is an occasion where a public display of affection or two seems pretty warranted.
On the record: trying to sprint across consecrated ground as a child of the night is and always has been a terrible idea. Magnus will maintain that forever and ever. As he will maintain his sometimes-secret and sometimes not-so-secret affection for Raphael, who would do something like that for the sake of seeing people he loved safe. ]
If you're implying my appearance is anything but youthful, Raphael--! [ He does have a list though. ]
[ at least here in eudio, there is no clave, no limiting rules, no sharp gaze watching their every move. the only politics that exist here are the ones they have brought with them, and raphael has already noticed some of them beginning to go slack. it's different here, even if animosity still lingers. and while magnus would probably hate to hear anything about the political benefits of marriage, raphael can't help but note the significance of this union, even if the rest of the shadow world isn't around to see it. but what's important is that here, there is little to stop magnus and alec from having what they want, if only for a little while.
or perhaps it does not need to be a little while. as things stand now, raphael does not have any intentions of staying longer than necessary, still feeling the itch to repair the damage back home even if all of it has been put on hold. but he wonders how long someone might be allowed to stay. maybe magnus and alec could make a home of eudio. maybe they could build a life that lasts years before finding their way back. it's not raphael's decision to make, though. ]
No, I don't think you would.
[ it's possible raphael's smile is determined to become a more permanent thing on his face because of the joy in magnus' voice, but that will be his secret to keep here in the darkness of his bedroom. he needs to appear annoyed at the idea of kissing at the moment. ] I'll do my best to mentally prepare. I hope you know you'll owe me.
[ though in reality, raphael expects no repayment for this. it's enough to offer what he can when magnus needs him, just as magnus has offered so much when their roles have been reversed. raphael is not likely to forget any of the kindness magnus has offered him over the long years anytime soon. ]
[ Different is the word that comes into Magnus' head every single day when he thinks about Eudio. Things grow differently here and they change in ways he doesn't anticipate. That goes for his relationship with Alec, but other things too. It's hard for someone with a timeline as long as Magnus' to really change, so he would hesitate to say Eudio has changed him, but being with Alec has. And that's made his experience here... different.
As for the politics, Magnus is aware. Given how their relationship began, it would be hard not to be, even if they've spent the majority of it away from those politics.
He doesn't plan to keep this hidden when he and Alec return home (because it's been a foregone conclusion that they will return, from day one until now). It's something that some will have to swallow or acclimate to or take their time trying to decide what it makes them feel. But that won't stop it from being. And being something important. It represents something.
Magnus thinks it's something good. ] If I have to put "kissing Alexander on the day we get married" on a list of things that I owe you for, then I'll do so happily, Raphael.
[ He could be teasing, except he still sounds so jubilant. ] You are startlingly innocent, my friend.
[ raphael is well aware of how different the dynamics of those that have come from their shared world could become, and much of it is because eudio offers a freedom that is unobtainable back home. it's not even quite the freedom they have from the waging of wars, though that lack of tension certainly plays it's part. instead, it's more the freedom to exist. the limitations placed on them by their respective societies and clans and families have been temporarily lifted, and in their place there is an overwhelming acceptance, no matter their history, no matter their runes or their teeth or their eyes. there is a chance to examine themselves apart from all of those things.
raphael is still trying to decide if that particular change will leave too much exposed, but that doesn't quite hold relevance here. what's important at this moment is what that freedom has brought magnus.
he shrugs, and if magnus knows him at all, he can probably hear it in his voice when he speaks. ] Well, as long as we're clear on that. [ a brief pause. ] Would you mind showing me that list?
[ That freedom is important. Granted, it's made it so there will doubtless be a period of re-acclimating when they return, but that same period of time existed when they first arrived.
It existed for Magnus in the form of knowing that he could open his club here and run it more openly than he could have at home. And in the fact that he has the option of revealing or not revealing his history. He's not a part of urban legends or everyone's back alley gossip here, there's no Clave file detailing everything he's done in the last few centuries. Also, when he and Alec wanted to go on a date, it wasn't a national event to arrange a time when they were both free.
He doesn't expect that to be the case when they return to New York. There will be changes and there will be adaptations and there's going to no doubt be discomfort. But how Magnus feels for Alec is the same in this world or any other and so is the promise he intends to make. ]
I apparently owe you a lot of things, my friend. [ Raphael can probably hear the raise of Magnus' brow in his words. ] Lists being the least among them, I'm sure. But since we've said it now, I'm going to tell you that you'd better be prepared to avert your eyes if you really don't want to see a kiss or two!
[ Deal with it, world. There's a lot of love there. And a great deal of affection from Magnus to Raphael too, while we're at it. He chuckles softly. ]
[ since he was turned, raphael never felt like he didn't have enough time. he's had his doubts about his abilities, about his strengths, about how to exert his power, but he's never feared having too little time to perfect all of those things. still, being in eudio, having this assured pocket of time apart from the flow of time back home has managed to give raphael some piece of mind.
his biggest concerns may always be about political growth, but he's not so ignorant that he thinks there is no room for personal growth. that's something this break from the norm can offer. the only problem is personal growth is a much more daunting task.
having a never-ending life stretch out in front of you can actually be the exact opposite of humbling, but raphael is far from being old enough to believe he cannot or should not do any more changing. though some changes he'll need convincing on. ]
I could have told you that. [ he sounds fairly confident on this point, but it's probably more teasing than actual fact. he scoffs. ] I will be. Trust me.
[ yes, you're allowed to kiss your husband on your wedding day, magnus, but raphael doesn't necessarily have to witness that part, right? he needs to play the role of disgusted adoptive brother sometimes, seeing as the specifics of his and magnus' relationship are so hard to pin down. they always seem to be morphing slightly to fit the setting. ]
[ Magnus huffs, as if offended. Which probably fools no one in existence, or at the very least, it's not likely to fool Raphael at all. ] I suppose after knowing one another all this time, it's a given we'd get tangled up in one another's love lives.
I tried to keep this from happening, you know! [ Oh, he tried.
How hard did he try? That is a good question. ] But now that we're firmly entangled, we might as well make the best of it. Say the word and I'll give you some suggestions for good date spots. [ He will not reuse dates that he has been on with Alec, that is a solemn promise. ]
More seriously, Raphael, I do hope you'll find some time for relaxation. There's a lot to take advantage of here. [ Which Magnus is illustrating pretty spectacularly right now, right? Oh, and by the way, he will do the responsible thing and warn Raphael before there's any threat of kissing. Or any sort of affectionate display that goes beyond hand-holding.
Maybe, just maybe, he likes the idea of having a disgusted adoptive brother. It's just possible, mind you, that it's nice to think about Raphael as something akin to family. Of course, that means Raphael is - in a sense - going to be part of Alec's family now. They might have to spend some time together. Think on that. ]
[ but seriously, it does seem a little inevitable. at least this kind of entanglement, i.e. the harmless, good-natured kind, is preferable to the kind that involves trouble with bloodthirsty and power-hungry exes. weddings are inherently more cheerful even if they do involve shadowhunters, and raphael's sure that magnus would have a ridiculous amount of fun offering dating advice. he's not one hundred percent keen on the idea, but in all honesty, if he's going to take advice from anyone, it will be from magnus. he's already proven that. ]
I don't think I've done a terrible job so far. [ he's allowed himself to take advantage of the local shops, made his apartment into something that does not feel so alien, tried his very best to convert old habits into new albeit similar ones so the days don't feel so long and useless (crosswords are a godsend). he's met people, which is more complicated, but at least he's found paths to take even if he hasn't started the walk down them as of yet.
magnus will most likely be hearing about it when he does. ]
Give me one date spot. [ don't get too excited, magnus. ] While I'm in a good mood. [ and he is.
so let's not spoil it with the thought of alec being a part of his family, shall we? he'll need a little time to process something like that. ]
[ It speaks to a certain sense of permanence. Raphael is a constant in his life, or has been long enough that it would be terribly difficult to imagine him not being there. However close they've been over time, it's still comforting to think that he's there. And Magnus certainly considers him a friend. It might sometimes be a somewhat antagonistic friendship, but he values it very highly.
There's a level of trust. And it has to be acknowledged, because they both worked very hard to get to this point.
Where joking around about dating advice, not to mention actually giving it, is possible. Magnus isn't recanting on that! ] Oh, you never do a terrible job at anything, amigo. Well, except maybe supporting my obviously unimpeachable fashion choices!
Only one, hm? I'll have to think on that. [ Since it'll have to be the best possible suggestion. Only the best for Raphael.
We'll put off the family discussion for another time then too.
[ raphael makes a very non-committal sound in response. fine, magnus. use whatever word you deem appropriate. there's no real way to deny that their lives are completely entangled, and are likely never to change.
even when they'd first found themselves separate after long months of existing almost solely in each other's space, having nearly driven each other somewhat batty, raphael did feel a small spark of vulnerability at not having magnus' steady presence nearby. he's not likely to admit to it, but it was there as he'd been adopted into the clan, and remained there until he'd found his place. there was always some level of comfort in seeing magnus afterwards, though if it was business, raphael was nothing but diplomatic.
they each have their own way in the world and the know-how to navigate it alone, but they're not likely to ever stop finding ways to invite the other in once and a while. the world would feel wrong otherwise. ]
What do you expect when you ask impossible things of me? I mean, sé razonable. [ you and your fashion choices, magnus. imagine the chaos that would ensue if they were to swap wardrobes. ]
My good mood won't last forever. [ but he says so lightly.
there will be time to talk about alec and family later, of course. ]
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[ friends are for very strange things, in raphael's opinion.
also, give him a moment to sit very still on the edge of his bed and stare at that message. married is not a word he expected to come up again so soon, and yet there it is, stark and unmistakable. maybe it's... a typo. ]
alright, now i need you to be much more specific.
[ he's so dumbfounded he forgets to say everyone knows you need witnesses when you get married. magnus, please. ]
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Anyway, friends. Enough kidding around. ]
I very much would like to get married and I can't do so without a witness present.
And I would like for it to be you.
I'm serious.
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he has to ask: ]
you asked alec to marry you?
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And has he not waited? Well... ]
No, I did not. He asked me. [ No one but perhaps Alec himself knows that his hands were shaking when he typed that. ]
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and he deserves that. raphael is sure. and while raphael had reassured him that just a little more waiting might be necessary, he doesn't quite mind being proven wrong in this case. ]
and you were afraid he wasn't ready.
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Truth be told, a lot of things are changed for him now. Since coming to Eudio, he's made new friends, immortal and mortal alike, and he's had opportunities to get to know both those people and familiar faces from his own home better than he might have ever had the opportunity had he never come to Eudio alongside them. Alec is one of those people and so is Raphael. Raphael who he's known for decades already. Which might be why Raphael's name came to mind before anyone else's.
Or it's simply because Raphael is his friend and he wants to share this happiness with someone he cares about. ] He is constantly surprising me, Raphael. I love him and I want to spend all the time we can have, together.
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or perhaps their relationship matters to him in ways he may never properly articulate, out of stubbornness or simple inability to form words for that kind of gratitude.
what magnus is asking of him now feels like some small step towards that, however. ]
and when you leave eudio? i'm sure you've thought about it.
and on that note, i'm fairly sure you're not going to stop loving him.
[ maybe he didn't need to ask. ]
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Even if it manifests sometimes in the oddest of ways. Magnus' quirky sass and Raphael's brusque affection...
Perhaps some part of this is Magnus' way of saying that loneliness doesn't have to last forever. Be it friend or lover (or husband, as the case may be), even people like them - whatever that means - can find happiness that's real and lasting. Speaking of: ]
We've talked about it. I have no illusions that it will be easy. But it will be worth it. To say more would certainly be indulging more sentimentality than I'm sure you want to witness at this hour.
I just wanted you to know. It's important to me. [ Important that Raphael know or that everyone know or that he can say it, simply put the thought out there in the air instead of keeping it locked up inside? Maybe all the above. ]
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he has his reservations about alec, there is no getting around that, but he would be lying to himself if he said he didn't want to see this— this marriage, wow work as well. he has faith that magnus knows what he's doing and that he knows what he wants. he's had enough time to figure it out. ]
as if you are ever short on sentimentality.
[ and then: ]
i know. [ and he's not claiming to know all of magnus' thoughts and feelings—some are not his to know—but he knows this. ]
can i call you?
[ whatever magnus' answer, his phone will ring a moment or two later. ]
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Truthfully, he is on the verge of typing some kind (no doubt very sentimental) of reply when his phone rings. When he answers, one can practically hear the joy that's suffusing every word. In spite of the fact that he's also most definitely indulging that quirky sass of his right out the gate. ]
I think you know I'm nothing if not sentimental, my friend. [ A breath. All the sass is gone and is replaced by what may seem to be sickening fondness. ] Hello, Raphael.
[ He's not apologizing for it. Not in a million years.
Nor for Alec. It's a difficult road for a number of reasons and while he's fond of the idea of people he loves befriending one another, he knows there is a lot... so much that shapes Alec and Raphael's relationship, such as it may be. That may make it all the more meaningful that Raphael is listening to him now. ]
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he doesn't expect magnus to apologize for alec. there are complications that come with shadowhunters, and this union is not going to make raphael's problems with alec or his family disappear, but magnus has no reason to apologize for his feelings. raphael doesn't expect him to apologize for his fondness, either, no matter how sickening he lets it become. he knows there's no measure of complaining that would make magnus hold back that fondness, but still, he usually complains. he can't just let magnus fawn over him in that ridiculous manner all the time, but at the moment, raphael won't pester him about it.
he won't bother with greetings, either. he called to say something else. ]
Congratulations, Magnus.
[ there's no hiding it; his smile is clear in his voice. there is a long pause before he sighs, like he can't let that hang in the air too long. what of their reputation? ]
Or old friend. Or mi amigo, or whatever stupid endearment you're sure to force on me.
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It just manifests in different ways from Raphael to Magnus and vice versa. That's all! ]
Thank you, [ Magnus says, responding in kind. Happy, content. He sounds as though he's where he wants to be, which is something that's a bit new for him. ] I'd be very glad if you'd be there with me. [ Yes, it's overtly affectionate and emotional and who knows what else, but it's important to say it. It may be sudden, yes, but there's a part of him that just doesn't want to let another day pass. Every day in this universe or any other is important. Here, perhaps because Eudio does afford certain freedom.
There's no one barring the way here. But it's not the home they've known for years and years. That home presents a host of obstacles. Maybe having this here and now is important armor for what's to come.
Practically speaking, when they go home, their worlds are most likely going to collide in all sorts of ways. The army that's on the rise will see to that.
Better to take advantage of peace now, isn't it? Magnus has lived far too long not to have some appreciation for the calm before the storm. ]
I like "old friend," you know. Even if it does call attention to my advanced age. It reminds me of all the fond memories I have of us together! [ While he says as much with a benign note in his voice, one can sort of imagine that the "fond memories" he is referencing include things like that time Raphael tried to kick him out of his own dwelling. ]
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he also knows that temporary things seem to mean much more in a long, seemingly endless life of temporary things. most things—most people—will find their end long before magnus or raphael, and so there is reason to cherish those fading things even more, to know them even after they've gone.
it's a bittersweet thought, and not one he'll share at the moment. ]
I'd be very offended if you weren't. [ which might suffice as an agreement to do this for magnus, but just so they're clear: ] Yes, I'll be there. [ a pause, so magnus can take that in. ] But I require fair warning if there will be any kissing involved.
[ what a coincidence! that particular memory comes to raphael's mind as well, and he might just smirk to himself where magnus cannot see it. oh, to be roommates again. what more disasters would they run into while trying helplessly to cohabitate as two people with very different ideas about how to conduct day to day life, from how to style one's hair to whether or not sprinting across consecrated ground as a child of the night is a good or bad idea?
short answer: many. ]
"Old friend" is not the only thing that calls attention to your advanced age. And I assume you have a list of fond memories you pour over constantly.
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They've talked about it. And they've talked about happier things, about the life they could build together. Is Magnus guilty of blind optimism if he says he enjoys the prospect of having a life with Alec? He's not turning his head so he can't see the reality of the situation. That they are from different worlds and the world looks different through either of their eyes. That people who are aligned with Alec want Magnus out of his life, that people who stand for what Magnus stands for stand opposed to the society that raised Alec. He knows these things.
And he knows there's a war waiting that will make each and every one of them all the more noticeable. But he knows just as well that they are both prepared for that, and whatever they aren't prepared for, they'll face together just as well. He has faith in that thought. ]
I wouldn't want to offend you, now would I?
Really, I'm very grateful. [ He sounds warmer and happier still when Raphael agrees to come. ] I really can't imagine this day ending without you being subject to witnessing at least one or two kisses though. Consider yourself forewarned, my friend.
[ He likes to kiss Alec. A lot. And this is an occasion where a public display of affection or two seems pretty warranted.
On the record: trying to sprint across consecrated ground as a child of the night is and always has been a terrible idea. Magnus will maintain that forever and ever. As he will maintain his sometimes-secret and sometimes not-so-secret affection for Raphael, who would do something like that for the sake of seeing people he loved safe. ]
If you're implying my appearance is anything but youthful, Raphael--! [ He does have a list though. ]
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or perhaps it does not need to be a little while. as things stand now, raphael does not have any intentions of staying longer than necessary, still feeling the itch to repair the damage back home even if all of it has been put on hold. but he wonders how long someone might be allowed to stay. maybe magnus and alec could make a home of eudio. maybe they could build a life that lasts years before finding their way back. it's not raphael's decision to make, though. ]
No, I don't think you would.
[ it's possible raphael's smile is determined to become a more permanent thing on his face because of the joy in magnus' voice, but that will be his secret to keep here in the darkness of his bedroom. he needs to appear annoyed at the idea of kissing at the moment. ] I'll do my best to mentally prepare. I hope you know you'll owe me.
[ though in reality, raphael expects no repayment for this. it's enough to offer what he can when magnus needs him, just as magnus has offered so much when their roles have been reversed. raphael is not likely to forget any of the kindness magnus has offered him over the long years anytime soon. ]
I'm as innocent as always.
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As for the politics, Magnus is aware. Given how their relationship began, it would be hard not to be, even if they've spent the majority of it away from those politics.
He doesn't plan to keep this hidden when he and Alec return home (because it's been a foregone conclusion that they will return, from day one until now). It's something that some will have to swallow or acclimate to or take their time trying to decide what it makes them feel. But that won't stop it from being. And being something important. It represents something.
Magnus thinks it's something good. ] If I have to put "kissing Alexander on the day we get married" on a list of things that I owe you for, then I'll do so happily, Raphael.
[ He could be teasing, except he still sounds so jubilant. ] You are startlingly innocent, my friend.
[ Startlingly. ]
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raphael is still trying to decide if that particular change will leave too much exposed, but that doesn't quite hold relevance here. what's important at this moment is what that freedom has brought magnus.
he shrugs, and if magnus knows him at all, he can probably hear it in his voice when he speaks. ] Well, as long as we're clear on that. [ a brief pause. ] Would you mind showing me that list?
[ that sounds incredibly interesting. ]
It's a shame most people don't seem to notice.
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It existed for Magnus in the form of knowing that he could open his club here and run it more openly than he could have at home. And in the fact that he has the option of revealing or not revealing his history. He's not a part of urban legends or everyone's back alley gossip here, there's no Clave file detailing everything he's done in the last few centuries. Also, when he and Alec wanted to go on a date, it wasn't a national event to arrange a time when they were both free.
He doesn't expect that to be the case when they return to New York. There will be changes and there will be adaptations and there's going to no doubt be discomfort. But how Magnus feels for Alec is the same in this world or any other and so is the promise he intends to make. ]
I apparently owe you a lot of things, my friend. [ Raphael can probably hear the raise of Magnus' brow in his words. ] Lists being the least among them, I'm sure. But since we've said it now, I'm going to tell you that you'd better be prepared to avert your eyes if you really don't want to see a kiss or two!
[ Deal with it, world. There's a lot of love there. And a great deal of affection from Magnus to Raphael too, while we're at it. He chuckles softly. ]
Invite them a little closer and they might!
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his biggest concerns may always be about political growth, but he's not so ignorant that he thinks there is no room for personal growth. that's something this break from the norm can offer. the only problem is personal growth is a much more daunting task.
having a never-ending life stretch out in front of you can actually be the exact opposite of humbling, but raphael is far from being old enough to believe he cannot or should not do any more changing. though some changes he'll need convincing on. ]
I could have told you that. [ he sounds fairly confident on this point, but it's probably more teasing than actual fact. he scoffs. ] I will be. Trust me.
[ yes, you're allowed to kiss your husband on your wedding day, magnus, but raphael doesn't necessarily have to witness that part, right? he needs to play the role of disgusted adoptive brother sometimes, seeing as the specifics of his and magnus' relationship are so hard to pin down. they always seem to be morphing slightly to fit the setting. ]
Here we go again.
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I tried to keep this from happening, you know! [ Oh, he tried.
How hard did he try? That is a good question. ] But now that we're firmly entangled, we might as well make the best of it. Say the word and I'll give you some suggestions for good date spots. [ He will not reuse dates that he has been on with Alec, that is a solemn promise. ]
More seriously, Raphael, I do hope you'll find some time for relaxation. There's a lot to take advantage of here. [ Which Magnus is illustrating pretty spectacularly right now, right? Oh, and by the way, he will do the responsible thing and warn Raphael before there's any threat of kissing. Or any sort of affectionate display that goes beyond hand-holding.
Maybe, just maybe, he likes the idea of having a disgusted adoptive brother. It's just possible, mind you, that it's nice to think about Raphael as something akin to family. Of course, that means Raphael is - in a sense - going to be part of Alec's family now. They might have to spend some time together. Think on that. ]
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[ but seriously, it does seem a little inevitable. at least this kind of entanglement, i.e. the harmless, good-natured kind, is preferable to the kind that involves trouble with bloodthirsty and power-hungry exes. weddings are inherently more cheerful even if they do involve shadowhunters, and raphael's sure that magnus would have a ridiculous amount of fun offering dating advice. he's not one hundred percent keen on the idea, but in all honesty, if he's going to take advice from anyone, it will be from magnus. he's already proven that. ]
I don't think I've done a terrible job so far. [ he's allowed himself to take advantage of the local shops, made his apartment into something that does not feel so alien, tried his very best to convert old habits into new albeit similar ones so the days don't feel so long and useless (crosswords are a godsend). he's met people, which is more complicated, but at least he's found paths to take even if he hasn't started the walk down them as of yet.
magnus will most likely be hearing about it when he does. ]
Give me one date spot. [ don't get too excited, magnus. ] While I'm in a good mood. [ and he is.
so let's not spoil it with the thought of alec being a part of his family, shall we? he'll need a little time to process something like that. ]
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[ It speaks to a certain sense of permanence. Raphael is a constant in his life, or has been long enough that it would be terribly difficult to imagine him not being there. However close they've been over time, it's still comforting to think that he's there. And Magnus certainly considers him a friend. It might sometimes be a somewhat antagonistic friendship, but he values it very highly.
There's a level of trust. And it has to be acknowledged, because they both worked very hard to get to this point.
Where joking around about dating advice, not to mention actually giving it, is possible. Magnus isn't recanting on that! ] Oh, you never do a terrible job at anything, amigo. Well, except maybe supporting my obviously unimpeachable fashion choices!
Only one, hm? I'll have to think on that. [ Since it'll have to be the best possible suggestion. Only the best for Raphael.
We'll put off the family discussion for another time then too.
Alas.
Pity. ]
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even when they'd first found themselves separate after long months of existing almost solely in each other's space, having nearly driven each other somewhat batty, raphael did feel a small spark of vulnerability at not having magnus' steady presence nearby. he's not likely to admit to it, but it was there as he'd been adopted into the clan, and remained there until he'd found his place. there was always some level of comfort in seeing magnus afterwards, though if it was business, raphael was nothing but diplomatic.
they each have their own way in the world and the know-how to navigate it alone, but they're not likely to ever stop finding ways to invite the other in once and a while. the world would feel wrong otherwise. ]
What do you expect when you ask impossible things of me? I mean, sé razonable. [ you and your fashion choices, magnus. imagine the chaos that would ensue if they were to swap wardrobes. ]
My good mood won't last forever. [ but he says so lightly.
there will be time to talk about alec and family later, of course. ]