strongest_faith | The Bane Chronicles: The Course of True Love (And First Dates)

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The Bane Chronicles: The Course of True Love (And First Dates)

Alec was late. He was really late. Late enough that he was pretty sure Magnus would have given up on him. Damn Jace wanting to train and Alec's inability to think of a good enough excuse to get out of it.

He'd rushed through a shower and pulled on a light-blue shirt that was actually new. Izzy said it did good things for his eyes. Alec hoped they were good enough for Magnus to forget that he was supposed to be there more than twenty minutes ago. He also hoped Izzy had been right about the cologne. He'd never worn cologne before.

As he sprinted through the Brooklyn streets to Magnus's loft, Alec dodged between pedestrians and once or twice vaulted a low wall that was in his way. He couldn't be bothered to stop for things like red lights, so he just flitted between (or over) cars where necessary. He was already late, but he didn't have to be any later.

By the time he got to Magnus's loft and threw himself at the buzzer, he actually needed to catch his breath.

[ooc: Dialogue and plot courtesy of Cassandra Clare's The Bane Chronicles.]

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"This one bites people," said Magnus putting the wallet back in his pocket. He was glad to have it back, "The John Varvatos wallet bursts into flames."

"Who?" said Alec.

Judging from the look on Magnus's face, Alec had disappointed him.

"Totally cool designer," said the girl with the butterfly clips. "You know they give you designer stuff for free when you're a movie star?"

Alec wasn't exactly sure what it was about him that gave her the impression this would be a selling point.

"I can always flog a Varvatos wallet," the mugger affirmed. "Not that I'd steal or sell anything from anyone on this platform," he was quick to add. "Especially not you guys." Alec was not entirely sure what to make of the look this guy gave him. It was not unlike the way Max looked at Jace. "I didn't know gay guys could fight like that. Like, no offense. It was badass."

Magnus addresses the thief, "You have been taught two important lessons about tolerance and honesty. And you still have all your fingers after tryiung to mug me on a first date, so this was the best outcome you could expect."

There was a murmur of sympathy.

Alec looks a little wild eyed. The warlock is certain that Alec is having a miserable time. It was supposed to be a simple plan. He sighs internally.

Alec had no idea what to do with the attention they were getting. These people were far too interested in Alec's love life for complete strangers.

"Aw, man, I'm sorry," said the mugger. "I wouldn't want to mess up anybody's first date with a ninja."

"WE ARE LEAVING NOW" Magnus declares in his best High Warlock voice.

He was worried that Alexander was planning to fling himself into the path of an oncoming train.

"Have fun on your date boys," said Butterfly Clips, and Alec felt her hand slipping something into the pocket of his jeans. He jumped. "Call me if you change your mind about wanting fame and fortune."

"Sorry again," said the mugger, waving them off cheerfully.

Alec could feel the tips of his ears burning as the left the platform to the sounds of an encouraging crowd.

Thanks, guys, Alec thought. No pressure.

Magnus walked Alec out of the subway.

He showed Alec to the restaurant on East 13th and 3rd near an American Apparel store and among a row of tired looking redbrick buildings. It is an Ethiopian and Italian fusion restaurant run by Downworlders.

It was on the shady, shabby side, so Shadowhunters did not frequent it.

Alec was grateful that it was at least not somewhere he was likely to see someone he recognized. Coming out by showing up at Taki's on a date with a warlock was not how he wanted to do that.

He wasn't sure how he did want to come out, but it wasn't like that.

There was a large, graffitied dinosaur obscuring the restaurant's sign, and Alec squinted at it to get a better look, but he followed Magnus in easily enough.

At least, it was easy until the door closed behind them and silence fell on the dimly-lit room. Silence broken by a crash, as an ifrit with flaming eyebrows dove behind a table.

Magnus had brought mundane dates here as a way to ease them into his world. The clientele is mainly downworlders.

It seemed like such a good idea, no Nephlim would be here and no chance that his family would get word about the date. But it took a hear beat for Magnus to realize his mistake. He was treating Alec like a mundane date but the look at the patrons said everything. Everyone who was here can tell that Alec is a Shadowhunter. Magnus might as well have walked into a Prohibition-era speakeasy flanked by police officers holding Tommy guns.

"Magnus Bane." A man Alec presumed was the owner scurried over to them. "You brought a Shadowhunter here? Is this a raid, Magnus? I thought we were friends. You could have at least given me a heads up."

"We're here socially." says magnus holding his hands up, palms out.

"I swear. Just to talk and eat."

Luigi shook his head, "For you, Magnus. But if he makes any moves towards my other customers..." he trails off and gestures at Alec.

"I...I won't," said Alec, clearing his throat. "I'm, um...I'm off duty."

"Shadowhunters are never off duty," Luigi said before leading them off to a dark and remote corner of the restaurant, for which Alec was extremely grateful.

A moment later, a werewolf waiter came to their table. He looked dreadfully bored. "Hello, my name is Eric, and I will be your server this eve-- Oh my god, you're a Shadowhunter."

Magnus closed his eyes for a pained moment, "We can leave" he told Alec, "This may have been a mistake"

As awkward as things were, as badly as he's sure this date is going, Alec would be damned if he was going to let some pimply werewolf intimidate him out of a date. Especially a date with Magnus. If this was going to be a...thing, if they were going to do this more than once, Alec was going to have to deal with Downworlders looking at him like he was, well, a Shadowhunter.

"No," he said, straightening slightly. "It's fine. It seems...fine."

"You're making me feel very threatened," said Eric the waiter.

"He's not doing anything" Snapped Magnus.

"It's not about what he's doing it's about how he's making me feel" Erik slammed down the menus as if they had personally offended him, I get stress ulcers"

"The myth that ulcers are caused by stress was debunked years ago. It's actually some kind of bacteria." Magnus says

Sensing things could rapidly get out of hand here, Alec pipes up, "Um...what are the specials?"

"I can't remember while my emotions are under this strain," said Erik. "A Shadowhutner killed my uncle!"

Alec blinked, taken aback. "I never killed anyone's uncle."

"How would you know?" demanded Erik. "When you're about to kill someone, do you stop and ask them if they have nephews?"

"I kill demons," Alec said. "Demons don't have nephews."

Magnus knows that's only technically true. His father is a demon afterall.

Clearing his throat loadly. "Maybe I should just order for the both of us and we can share?"

"Sure," said Alec, throwing his menu down.

"Do you want a drink?" the waiter asked Alec, adding sotto voce, "or do you want to stab someone? If you absolutely have to, maybe you could stab the guy in the corner wearing the red shirt. He tips terribly."

Alec opened his mouth, realized he...didn't know how to answer that, and closed it again.

Then, a moment later, "Is...this a trick question?"

"Please go" Magnus says to Erik the waiter/

Even after Erik the waiter was gone Magnus is fairly sure that Alec is having a horrifying time and Magnus can't blame him.

Several of the other customers had left casting panicked glances over their shoulders as they paid hurriedly.

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."

Magnus noticed that Luigi put in an effort with this meal. At first Magnus was surprised that Alec knew to eat with his fingers without being told but then he realized that Alec is a New Yorker even if he is also a Shadowhunter.

"No it wasn't" Magnus says frowning.

Alec reached for a bite of penne arrabbiata to cover the awkwardness of the moment, and immediately started choking, tears streaming from his eyes.

It was...really spicy. And Alec usually did fine with spicy foods.

"Alexander!" Magnus exclaims

"I'm fine...I'm fine," Alex gasped, trying to play it off like he hadn't just choked on pasta that was now trying to burn its way through is tongue.

He reached for his napkin and picked up his bread instead, only realizing it was bread when he went to dab his streaming eyes with it. He dropped the bread and grabbed his napkin instead, unfolding it completely so he could just bury his face in it. His ears were burning, and he knew his face must be bright red.

Could he be a worse date?"

"You are obviously not fine!" Magnus responds before taking a tiny bite of the penne.

It burned like fire.

Magnus makes a peremptory gesture for the waiter that included a few blue sparks.

The people eating them were edging their tables subtly.

When the waiter arrives Magnus confronts Erik, "This penne is much too arrabiata, and you did it on purpose."

"Werewolf rights" Erik grumbled, "Crush the vile oppressors"

"No body has ever won a revolution with pasta, Erik. Now go get a fresh dish or I'll tell Luigi on you."

Erik starts to respond defiantly when Magnus narrows his cat eyes.

"My apologies"

"What a pill" Magnus remarks loudly as Erik walks away,

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