pineslog | Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea.

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Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea.

Who: Jefferson, Cassian, Rhiannon, and anyone who feels like visiting the tea shop.
Where: Go Ask Alice
When: Any time in April, barring events.
What: An open catch-all log for goings on at the tea shop!
Warnings: N/A, just put them in your comment headers as needed.

[Open]

The town seems livelier these days, owing in part to everybody's recovery from the recent plague that went about. And a natural outcome of the warming weather and bustling activity is, of course, the tea room seeing more business-- which is something of a mixed bag to Jefferson, off-putting and antisocial as he can be at times.

Customers equal money: good!
Customers equal Jefferson having to deal with people and responsibilities more often: not so good.

But at least the shop's running smoothly-- or, at least, as smoothly as a place staffed by a rebel spy, a garbage eating bird, and the Mad Hatter can be. They've even started hosting occasional events, like open mic nights for poetry and creative writing and music. All in the name of cultivating the arts in Wayward Pines! Such as it is. (It's definitely not an excuse for Jefferson and Rhi to snicker behind the counters.)

So come on in and have a cup of tea. Or, well, anything else on the menu. And enjoy the music (and the staff selected music). And... the company of the (occasionally, to varying degrees) helpful staff.

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"You'll always have an effect on me, even if it's not visible." The blushes were just one of the more obvious signs that he was aware of Magnus being in the room or that he was caught up in the possibilities that he'd never thought they would have. He wished he could remember how they had reached this place in their lives, how Magnus had become as much a part of his heart as Izzy, Jace, and Max. However it had happened, he was certain that it had been what most beings would call 'normal'.

But he'd given up on 'normal' and 'safe' when he'd chosen Magnus and he knew that he'd never regretted that choice.

Smiling in wry amusement as the flames died down, he brushed a kiss against Magnus' cheek. "I like your magic, but I don't want some panicked Mundane pouring water on us because we're on fire."

For some reason, that sounded familiar...

"I know Greek too." Why had he known two, old languages that he'd never use in America. Had he been a scholar in New York? Trying to sift through bits of information that had no context, he slowly added. "I can read The Three Musketeers in French and The Divine Comedy in Italian. Jace and I read them to each other when we can't sleep."

"And you always have an effect on me, my love, even if blushes aren't as obvious on me." And yet Alec was able to make him blush, something that seemed to be surprising though Magnus wasn't sure why. There were still so many mysteries about their relationship, but also about himself that sometimes made it difficult to put Alec's effect on him into context.

But if there was one thing Magnus was sure of, it was that any concept of normalcy didn't belong in their lives and hadn't even before they'd started dating. "That would put a damper on our evening," he teased.

Magnus sobered some when he heard the confusion, perhaps slight disbelief, in Alec's tone. It was confusing enough to be remembering details of the past, but their lives were so strange compared to the agreed upon order of mundane life. "I've been dreaming in a strange, dark language," he admitted, voice low not only because it wasn't a detail he wanted to share, but it had honestly scared him the first time.

Lifting their joined hands, he kissed the back of Magnus', smiling at his husband's words. For some reason he was the one who could cause Magnus to react in ways that he hadn't in a long time. He couldn't help being proud of the thought even if he didn't know why whatever he'd done had been such an achievement. "They're obvious to someone who knows you." Alec could usually pick up when he'd had an effect on his husband or the strange moods that suddenly seemed to overtake Magnus. He didn't always know the causes of the faint blushes or the thoughts that seemed to pull Magnus from him, but he could easily recognize the signs.

Fighting back a chuckle, he tried to look serious. "It would. We'd have to go home early so we could rescue your outfit."

The thought of knowing different languages didn't frighten him. Not on the surface at least. His education had been diverse. It wasn't something to worry over except the fact that he didn't know why he'd learned lessons in Latin or stayed up late at night reading adventure stories to a terrified boy he only half-remembered.

What did frighten him was the mention of the dark language. Instinctively, Alec knew that he would understand it if Magnus spoke it. "I think I know it too," he admitted, his voice just as quiet as Magnus'. "It's dangerous." That he knew as easily as he'd known he loved Magnus when he saw him the first time outside the hospital. "Not something that should be spoken when you aren't safe behind wards."

Magnus' heart melted at the kiss to his hand, something so simple and yet romantic. It felt old fashioned, something he appreciated, and was another in a long list of ways that Alec showed his trust in Magnus and his ability to control his magic. "It helps that you look so closely," he replied, knowing there was a difference between Alec's usual observations and the way his eyes would follow Magnus. And even if he wasn't aware of the cause, Alec almost always knew the solution to the negative moods that threatened to pull him under.

"I would say it would be a waste of an evening out," he said, lifting an eyebrow, "But there's nothing I'd love more than ending a date with you helping me undress." Which was a far more inviting topic than cursed languages meant to be kept to shadows and nightmares. Lifting a hand, he pressed a finger to Alec's lips and held it there for a moment as he looked into his eyes. "Then let's talk about it later," he said softly, letting his hand fall to rest against Alec's chest.

"How could I not look at someone as amazing as you?" Alec knew that it was more than that. They had one of those rare relationships that Alec hadn't really believed he'd have a chance at until he'd met Magnus. They understood each other even when their broken memories should have made that impossible. "Everything else fades away when you're in the room."

It was probably a horribly cliched thing to say, but it was true. Nothing short of life or death disasters seemed to distract him when Magnus was near.

"I wouldn't be a total waste," Alec protested, fighting back a smile. "You did get to hear me quote poetry in Latin." He was about to say something else when Magnus placed his finger against his lips. The smile didn't fade as his eyes darkened, an obvious hint for his husband of what Alec would have done if they had been alone. Instead he caught Magnus' hand, shifting it slightly so it rested above his heart.

"Set me as a seal upon thine heart, as a seal upon thine arm: for love is strong as death." He'd said the words before after they'd exchanged rings, but the gesture reminded him of that vow. "Or not at all. Why talk about things like that when we're starting over?"

Chuckling softly, Magnus felt a grin spread over his features despite his attempts not to react like a teenager whenever Alec complimented him. "I think you have a biased opinion, Alexander, though I'm really not complaining. This view is all yours," he said with a quick gesture at himself. But he knew that Alec meant it as something more special than that, and he grew more serious to show that he wasn't trying to make light of their relationship. "It's hard to notice anything else when my whole world is right here," he said while smoothing a thumb over Alec's cheek.

He hummed and nodded, pushing Alec's hair back from his eyes. "I did, and it was beautifully said," he replied, allowing Alec to move his hand to rest against his heart. He could feel it beating beneath his palm, steady and strong. Distracted by the words, he felt his own heart race at the echo of the vows they'd made before. Now, with more memories at hand, he recalled something that suddenly made his chest ache. "You should have runes," he muttered.

"I'm supposed to be biased about my husband." It still feels like a gift to be able to say that aloud and not worry about anyone being offended. No one would hurt them for being together. No one in town cared that it had been forbidden in New York. Smiling softly at Magnus, his chest almost ached with happiness. "I'm glad we decided to stay here. I'd fade away if I wasn't able to have this with you."

That wasn't quite true, but Alec knew he wouldn't be the same without Magnus. Some important piece of himself would fade even if he continued on.

"The view had better be all mine since you're wearing my ring," he teased before his tone became more serious. "We only give them to the people we love most." Alec's parents would probably have a fit if they knew he'd given it to Magnus. It was against... something. It'd been part of the reason why they'd had to leave but Alec didn't understand what it meant.

"It would have been better if I had practiced before." At least Alec assumed it would be but he'd remembered it with nearly perfect clarity. Had he been right about the 'photographic memory' he'd mentioned to Pepper?

That detail was forgotten when Magnus mentioned the runes. The words and the hand on his chest seemed to cause some fragment of memory to become whole. He could imagine the sweeping curves of the wedding rune, knowing exactly how they would curl over his heart. "But you can't have runes. I won't have one if you can't share the set with me."

"You wouldn't fade," he asserted, confident that Alec would continue on even without him. Though he didn't want to think about being separated from Alec, Magnus hoped that if that time ever came, they would both be strong enough on their own to live independently. Not that Magnus would allow that to happen; he'd put up a fight for their love, even if it were Alec trying to end things. "You're strong, Alexander, and you don't need me to keep that strength."

Frowning softly, Magnus turned the ring on his finger as he thought about the significance it carried. Though he'd given Alec one of his rings, nothing Magnus owned carried the same weight as a Shadowhunter's family ring, nor the runes they were supposed to brand into their skin to forever bind their souls together. "Warlocks don't have anything like that," he said, remembering the words even as he spoke them. For all of the gifts he'd given Alec and places they'd shared together, there was no single item that Magnus could give him to signify the depth of the love he held for him.

His hand clenched against Alec's shirt where it rested over his heart, and he took a moment before looking back up at him. "Is it alright if we go home?" he asked, feeling guilty for the desire since they had been enjoying a night out together. But he couldn't stop thinking about the ring and the runes, two things that held such immense weight for Nephilim that Magnus couldn't share with Alec. "I want to be alone with you."

"Without you, I'd be too strong. Inflexible. Eventually, I'd break or the parts of me that you taught me not to be afraid of would fade." Why did it seem like Alec knew that from experience? When he was younger, he had hidden his sexuality and most of himself from the world and Magnus gave him a chance to find out who he was. But why did he know what it was like to live without being in a relationship without Magnus after those changes? If Magnus ever wanted him to leave...

Shying away from the thought and the hints in the back of his mind that it had happened, he focused on his husband instead.

Realizing something was wrong, he looked down at the Lightwood ring, trying to understand why Magnus might be unhappy with it. It was important to Shadowhunters, but maybe his husband had wanted some other symbol of their love. Maybe something brighter than plan silver etched with flames. Keeping his fingers wrapped around Magnus' hand, he tried to think of some answer that wouldn't hurt, then accidentally blurted out, "I don't care."

Flushing slightly, quickly began to speak before his words could hurt Magnus. "I didn't marry you so I could have runes or a ring. I married you because I loved you. I don't care about any of that. And you're not just any warlock. You're a High Warlock and my husband. If you want me to have something like that, you'll think of it or create it." Even if he didn't remember all the magic he'd seen Magnus use, Alec knew that he had an incredible gift.

His heart lurched painfully in his chest as Magnus looked up at him, feeling guilty for whatever had caused the hurt his husband felt. Alec wanted to apologize but knew this wasn't the place. "Of course." Carefully hiding his reaction, he gently pulled Magnus' hand from his shirt. There were so many things that he wanted to say. That runes and rings didn't matter. Intent was more important than any of those things, but he would have to wait to tell Magnus those things.

"Are you saying I make you weak?" he teased softly, brushing his fingers over the black rune that slashed across the curve of Alec's neck. He loved it, the way his eye would find the lines and follow them from Alec's chest up towards his eyes which were so easy to get lost in as he watched they change colors based on the light. Magnus knew what Alec meant, though, about the difference between rigidity and strength and how the right person could help teach a heart to bend so that it wouldn't break.

The bluntness of Alec's words snapped Magnus out of his thoughts, and he looked up at him with a bemused smile. He was about to ask what it was that Alec didn't care about, but then he charged forth without any prompting. Lips parting, he started to say something but stopped himself in favor of kissing Alec firmly on the mouth, regardless of where they were and who was watching. How he had become so skilled at reading Magnus and knowing what he needed to hear, Magnus wasn't entirely sure, but he was thankful for it every day when they were able to understand each other a little better because of it. "I just want to give you everything you deserve, Alexander," he explained, feeling childish for dwelling on things like rings and runes when they were already so lucky to have so much. And Alec was right, because Magnus could and would think of something more meaningful for Alec than just the monogrammed ring he wore in the interim.

Keeping close, he stroked a hand over the side of Alec's face and smiled at him. "I'm not mad, angel" he reassured him, "Or upset. I'm just ready to be with you and only you for the rest of the night." His guilt redoubled as he thought about how his reaction must have been taken, obviously retreating into his thoughts about all the Shadowhunter signs of marriage and love that they couldn't share together. But, if he really thought about it, that was just another reason their relationship was so special.

"In the best ways." Smiling at the teasing, Alec managed not to shiver when Magnus' fingers brushed along the deflect rune on his neck. It had never been sensitive before he'd met Magnus, at least not like this. He was lucky that it hadn't been or he never would have been able to have it placed there. "And you make me stronger in the ways that I need."

Alec wasn't sure if he'd said the right thing until he was silenced by the kiss. For a moment he forgot that they were in the middle of the tea shop, possibly being watched by their neighbors and friends. Cupping Magnus' jaw, he brushed his thumb along his husband's cheek when they moved apart. "Magnus, you've already given me that. You are more than I deserve." He believed that completely, sometimes still awed by the idea that someone as brilliant as Magnus had chosen the boy who had spent his life hiding in shadows. "The ring I have is special because it's yours." Dropping his hand, he started toying with one of Magnus' necklaces. "And we both know that if it's shiny and yours, I'll love it."

Fingers still tangled in the chain, he arched an eyebrow at his husband. He knew that Magnus' reassurance wasn't exactly true. He was upset, but not at Alec. There were other things he could say, but they weren't subjects that should be discussed in public. Nodding to show that he accepted the explanation temporarily, Alec let go of the necklace and took Magnus' hand before standing. "I'll recite more poetry when we're back home, Karissima."

Magnus walked his fingers a little higher, veering off the black path of the rune and moving to the skin just beneath Alec's ear. He'd left a mark of his own just over Alec's pulse point, and he pressed against it gently to remind Alec that it was there. "You remind me that I'm human," he said, meaning it similarly to Alec admitting that he could be weak around Magnus. "It's something that I'd forgotten for so long before meeting you."

Shivering at the hand on his face, he turned into it and kissed the heel of Alec's palm. He couldn't have cared less if anyone was watching; at the moment, he would have kissed Alec in front of the entire Clave. "Shush," he said, frowning at the thought that he could be something more to anyone, let alone Alec Lightwood. "I am exactly what you deserve because you are brilliant and strong and caring and gorgeous," he rambled. "And if nothing else, we deserve each other because we deserve what makes us happy, don't you think?" It was a big step, allowing himself to believe he deserved happiness after the life he had led, the things he had done. Laughing softly as Alec played with his jewelry, he gave him an adoring smile. "My beautiful magpie. I'll keep all these shiny things on when I take you to bed."

Waiting for Alec to stand before joining him, he was happy to be led away from the table and eventually out the door. "Write Latin on my skin with your lips," he said softly, snaking an arm around Alec's waist so they could walk close to each other and speak softly. "I want you close tonight, sayang, to stay up until the sun comes up and paints you with a thousand colors."

He tried not to show how distracted he was by Magnus' fingers moving along his neck, but he couldn't stop the way his breath caught when his husband found the mark that Alec had thought wouldn't be noticeable compared to the sharp lines of his rune. No one in the tea shop had probably paid attention to it but Magnus always remembered what spots still hinted at their time together. "I'm grateful that you remembered and that we found each other." And he was grateful that he'd been brave enough to realize that he was completely infatuated with a warlock with beautiful, golden eyes who had cared for him in a way few others had.

Watching his husband, Alec had an idea of what Magnus was thinking and couldn't help remembering their very public kiss in front of the Clave and Alec's family. Their neighbors might be more forgiving than the Clave, but he didn't want to get banned from one of their favorite shops because of PDA. "I think the same things about you. You make me happier than I thought was possible, Magnus." Sometimes Alec wondered if they'd done the right thing when they'd left New York, but he knew they'd never have found this contentment their. Someone would have always tried to tear them apart. "I think that's what we deserve even when I wonder why you chose the guy in the ugly hoodie."

Gently tugging on the necklace tangled around his fingers, he gave Magnus an amused look. "Are you going to be angry if I accidentally break one?" Alec usually was careful of Magnus' clothes and jewelry, but sometimes he did forget and something ended up in less than perfect condition in the morning.

Walking with Magnus, he was still surprised how easy things were for them. They could walk with their arms around each other while they made their way home, call each other pet names, and everyone acted like it was normal. In New York, no one had bothered them, but that had been because of the sheer number of people around them allowed them to disappear. Here they were accepted, no one acting like it was strange that they were together.

"All the words I can't say aloud because I'm awed by how beautiful you are." It wasn't the most poetic thing to say but Alec knew that Magnus would value his honesty, finding that more eloquent than any prose he could recite. "The sun will find us both since I'm not planning on letting you go for more than a few moments tonight."

He was always careful to map out the marks he left behind on Alec's skin, subtle red and purple reminders of where his lips had lingered or his teeth had bitten down against the pleasure of being touched. Smiling at him, he let his hand drop once again but not before tugging on a curly lock of black hair. "I think fate had it out for us and we would have found one another no matter what else happened."

Chuckling as he threaded their fingers together, Magnus raised Alec's hand to his lips and kissed the knuckles. "I wasn't looking at what you were wearing, Alexander," he said, golden eyes soft as he thought back to the first time he had seen Alec; now, he couldn't really recall any details of his outfit other than the traditional black, but he'd been drawn to so much more than his clothes. "I'd ask if you were attracted to me because of my ensemble, but I'll be hurt by either answer," he said with a playful smirk.

Eyes widening and flashing with light caught within them, Magnus instinctively leaned in closer as Alec pulled him in by the necklace. "Absolutely," he lied, allowing the momentum of his body to carry him close enough to kiss Alec. He didn't care about his jewelry, not only because he could fix it with magic but also because it was so much more important to be in the moment with Alec, even if that meant sacrificing a few gold chains.

It was easy to fall into step beside Alec, their strides matching even if Magnus was a bit shorter. He was so wrapped up in their private world that he didn't think much of the people they passed on the street or anyone who might have been watching from the windows lining the sidewalk. Being with Alec had become as easy as breathing, even if his husband still took his breath away.

Squeezing Alec's hand more tightly in his own, he tugged until Alec was close enough for Magnus to steal a kiss. "You don't have to say anything," he replied, brushing some glitter from Alec's cheek and then continuing down the road that would lead them home. He knew that Alec's strength didn't lie in words, but he did love him in part of his honesty and how he was comfortable enough to show vulnerable truths to Magnus. "Don't let me go at all," he mumbled as they turned the corner and finally stepped onto their street.

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Alice looked all round the table, but there was nothing on it but tea.

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