[ 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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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. ]
no subject
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. ]