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

[strongest_faith]

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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[strongest_faith]

"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?"

[highwarlock_bane]

"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,

[strongest_faith]

Alec had finally gotten himself under control and breathing mostly normally. "Yeah," he said, glad to have something to talk about, even if it was just their horrible waiter. "What have Shadowhunters ever done to him?"

[highwarlock_bane]

Magnus lifted an eyebrow, "Well, he did mention s dead uncle."

[strongest_faith]

"Oh," said Alec. "Right."

So much for that line of conversation. Alec lowered his eyes to the tablecloth like maybe it would give him some conversational pointers.

[highwarlock_bane]

"He's still a total pill though" Magnus offers.

[strongest_faith]

Alec mumbled under his breath, low enough that Magnus would not hear. "This was a bad idea."

He was about to get up the nerve to say as much out loud when the door opened and a handsome mundane man came in, flanked by a group of gorgeous young faeries. At least, they looked young. With faeries, you could never really tell.

[highwarlock_bane]

Magnus slunk down in his chair. Richard. Richard is a mortal who the faeries had adopted in the way they did sometimes, especially when the mortals were musical. He was also something else.

Magnus clears his throat, "Quick warning. The guy who just walked in is an ex" he says, "Well. Barely an ex. It was very casual. and we parted very amicably."

At that very moment, Richard caught sight of him. Richard's whole face spasmed; then he crossed the floor in two steps.

"You are scum!" Richard hisses before picking up Magnus' glass of wine and dashed it in his face.

To Alec, "Get out while you can, Never trust a warlock. They'll enchant the years from your life and love from your heart!

[strongest_faith]

Alec sat up straighter. Apparently he wasn't Magnus's worst date ever.

[highwarlock_bane]

"Years?" Magnus splutters, "It was barely twenty minutes!"

"Time means different things to those who are of the faerie. You wasted the best twenty minutes of my life" says Richard the pretentious idiot/

Magnus grabs hold of his napkin and calmly cleans off his face as Richard retreats.

"Alright, it's possible I was mistaken about the amicable parting." trying to smile suavely, "Ah well. You know exes."

[strongest_faith]

Alec made eye contact right up until that last comment, at which point, his gaze moved resolutely back to the tablecloth. "Not really," he said. "You're my first ever date."

[highwarlock_bane]

Magnus didn't know why he thought this might work but it isn't working and has to get out of this date and not hurt Alec's pride.

With no satisfaction he texts Catrina under the table and then sat there quietly trying to figure out what he'll say to Alec.

His phone rings and Magnus answers it hastily.

Catrina's voice on the other end, "Magnus, there's an --"

"An emergency, Catrina?" Magnus intterupts her, "that's terrible! What happened?"

"An actual emergency happened, Magnus!"

Magnus appreciated Catrina's commitment to her role but wished she wouldn't shout. "That's so awful, Catrina/ I mean, I'm really busy, but I suppose if there are lives at stake I can't say n-"

Catrina interrupts Magnus, "There are lives at stake, you blithering idiot! Bring the Shadowhunter!"

Magnus Pauses

"Catrina, I don't think you fully understand the point of what you're meant to do here."

"Are you drunk already, magnus? Are you off debauching and getting one of the Nephlim-one of the Nephlim who is under 21- drunk? Nevermind that. Listen carefully because I am working and one of my hands is covered in fluid, and I'm only going to say this once""

"Fluid, what kind of fluid?" Magnus asks.

[strongest_faith]

Ah.

The date really was that bad. Bad enough that Magnus had engineered an emergency to get out of it. Alec could appreciate that Magnus was trying to spare his pride, at least.

Or he had appreciated it, until Magnus's conversation took a weird turn toward fluid?

He was sure his confusion showed on his face, but he couldn't seem to get his expression under control.

[highwarlock_bane]

"Only going to say this once! There is a young werewolf in the Beauty Bar downtown. She went out on the night of a full moon because she wanted to prove herself that she could still have a normal life. A vampire called this in and the vampires are not going to be of any help because the vampires never are. The werewolf is changing, she is in an unfamiliar and crowded place, and she will probably lose control and kill somebody. I can't leave the hospital. Lucian Graymark has his phone off, and the word from his pack is that he is in a hospital with a loved one. You are not in a hospital: you are out on a stupid date. If you went to the restaurant you told me that you were going to, then you are the closest person I know who can help. Will you help, or will you continue to waste my time?"

"I will not waste your time, darling." said Magnus to his old friend.

"I'll bet before she hung up.

Magnus then takes a moment looking at Alec.

"I'm so sorry about this, It's an emergency"

[strongest_faith]

It really was sweet of Magnus, when Alec thought about it. "Um," he said. "It's okay. I, uh, I understand."

[highwarlock_bane]

"There's an out of control werewolf in a bar near here."

[strongest_faith]

"Oh," said Alec, who was about 95% certain this was bullshit.

[highwarlock_bane]

Something inside Magnus cracked, "I have to go and try to get her under control. Will you come and help me?"

[strongest_faith]

"Oh!" said Alec, brightening immeasurably. "This is a real emergency! I figured it was one of those things where you arrange to have a friend call you so that you could get out of a sucky date."

[highwarlock_bane]

For a brief moment Magnus felt pleased that a maddened werewolf was ravaging downtown Manhattan if it made Alec look like that.

"Ha ha, I didn't know people did that." Magnus says trying to hide his guilt.

[strongest_faith]

Alec was already on his feet, pulling on his jacket, instantly more relaxed. This was something he knew how to do. A maddened werewolf was easy compared to a first date.

"Let's go, Magnus."

[highwarlock_bane]

A burst of fondness in Magnus' chest. he liked how Alexander said the things that other people thought and never said. And he liked how Alec called him Magnus and not warlock. He liked how Alec's shoulders moved under his jacket.

He thought Alec would be delighted for an excuse to exit an uncomfortable date.

Throwing money down on the table.

[strongest_faith]

Alec made a noise of protest and reached for his wallet.

[highwarlock_bane]

He says cheerfully, "Please, You have no idea how much I overcharge Ne[hilim for my services. This is only fair. Let's go." with a wave of his hand.

[strongest_faith]

Alec wasn't familiar with the bar they were headed to, but he knew when they got close because the people spilling out weren't doing so like people going to grab a cigarette or hook up. There was fear in this crowd. And a weird sort of fascination. They hovered around the entrance like onlookers at a train wreck.