It was...awkward. And Alec felt like he should know what to say, should be able to keep a conversation moving. Jace would. Jaace would be so much better at all of this.

When the food finally came, Alec looked it over, surprised to see Magnus had ordered the kitfo raw.

Still, it was familiar, and Alec could eat, even if he couldn't make small talk. Maybe, he could even do both.

"This is the best Ethiopian I've ever had," he said, between mouthfuls of doro wat. "Do you know a lot about food?" he asked, and then suddenly, that seemed like a ridiculous question. Magnus was...who even knew how old. He'd probably eaten all sorts of exotic foods Alec hadn't even heard of.

"I mean...obviously you do. Never mind. Dumb thing to say."