cape_kore | ( v i d e o | day 86

It's difficult to paint one's nails when you've got a camera attached to your wrist, you know. [ The brush hovers just outside of the feed, threatening to drip purple paint everywhere, and Magnus' eyes - glamoured unless you have the inherent ability to see those golden cat eyes - blink sleepily at the unfashionable wedge locked to his skin. But suddenly the mood shifts. He grins, teeth sharp and very, very white. ] I'm a little confused as to why actually. I know I'm particularly fabulous but I'm not sure we could really drum up a whole cast for the next big reality show. Some of you are clearly Mundanes and while I find you very charming it's not like you're going to burst into a shower of champagne any time soon. Unless you're dreaming - which by the way, some of you obviously need psychiatric help. If I find a couch big enough I'll open my doors. But what's the point in filming all those hours of pointless activity in between?

[ His fingers let go of the brush for a second, letting it hover long enough for him to run a hand through his thick hair. It's immediate, the illusion shifting from him like running water. To the humans he changes - Magnus Bane the High Warlock of Brooklyn is tired of pretending. And so he gives the floating brush a grin, eyes flashing like a headlight has been shone to them. This is who he is. This place is clearly a melting pot for specific creatures and he's crippling himself by pretending to be normal. His derision is a ploy after all. Pretend to be bored and the villain usually shows his hand. It's something he learnt from a number of impudent but beautiful Herondales.

And Magnus has shown himself to the Mundanes before, if they react badly he can just - well, brood fashionably he supposes. On his psychiatric couch.

His magic doesn't last long though, not with the way the brush then shudders and drops to the floor, his spark dying out. Magnus blinks and then his features shift suddenly, frustration and anger mingling on his handsome face. ] Oh for the love of Kim Kardashian why is this happening?

[ His gaze narrows as he regards the bright splash of colour on the floor. It's been on and off since he got here. He had assumed that the trauma of being kidnapped had something to do with it. And then Alec had shown up and Magnus had other things to think about. Namely the shattered pieces of his sticky-taped heart. But he's not going there. ] All right, spill. Who's messing with my mojo?

[ Another pause. ] I need a drink.

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[Alec's tried to stay away from Magnus, it seemed easier, but this video had him worried. And no, he wasn't worried about this particular shade of nail polish, Alec barely registered that it had a colour. It was the problems with Magnus' magic that drew him out.

Magnus couldn't protect himself if the magic vanished at an inconvenient point. Alec couldn't handle that, and it worried him there was something or someone powerful enough to mess with Magnus powers.

Those blue eyes are all concern.]

Magnus. You shouldn't show the mundanes what you can do, especially when your magic gone ....weird.

[ Alec.

Magnus tries to ignore the way his heart skips a beat - he's too old for this kind of thing, too broken - and regards him thoughtfully. Part of him wants to interrogate, to ask where he's been hiding, if he's been safe. But it isn't his place anymore, is it?

So he breathes out and plasters on a smile. ] I doubt they're going to storm the castle any time soon. Not all of them are human. And the ones that are seem to be pretty used to a little ... flamboyance.

I need to talk to you about some of the non human ones. I would ask Jace but...[Alec's voice trails off. He's lost his parabatai and the warlock who he saw as a confidant and more....But he needs someone he trusts to talk to about the angels.

His shoulders tighten, it isn't getting any easier to see or hear Magnus.

Abruptly,]

How are you going to protect yourself if someone objects to your flamboyance?

[ He tries not to bristle at the mention of Jace's name, he really does. But he finds it's still rather natural. They may be parabatai and he does understand that, but too much of their relationship has been focused on the other man and it makes Magnus feel oddly -

cheated. So his voice shifts, closes off. ] I'm always willing to help a Shadowhunter in need, you know that.

[ Though he softens in the next minute. He could still defend himself, he supposes. It's spotty, not gone. ] I could hit them over the head with a frying pan? I saw that in a movie once.

[Alec plays with his fraying sleeves. The uncertainty which has plagued his life is edging back in.]

Thanks, I guess.

[He frowns.] That doesn't sound practical, frying pans don't hold any special properties.

We're going to have to start thinking the Mundane way, Alec. It's the only way we're going to survive.

[ There are demons here, yes. But the majority of the threat will come from outside of what they're used to. ]

[Alec shook his head in denial. The only way he knew how to identify himself was a Shadowhunter. It isn't a mindset which he can toss to one side.]

No, I will do this as a Shadowhunter...once I learn how to cook.

[ A long pause.

He'd forgotten just how young Alec is, how strange it must be to not have the network of his siblings - adopted and otherwise - to fall back on. He wonders where he's been staying, if he's eaten, finds his stomach clenching at the thought that he might have been suffering all this time.

They're not together anymore but he still cares. ] Where have you been staying?

House 12. [Alec sees no reason to hide the information from Magnus. There was a time he'd spent so much time with Magnus, that he'd come to consider himself part of Magnus' home.

His face is more angular. Alec's lived on what he's been able to scavenge. Cooking was for the servants. Except there wasn't any here.]

It has a kitchen.

Kitchens don't magically serve up food by themselves.

[ Even Isabelle's hideous cooking would probably be preferable to nothing. Magnus knows. She once made him suffer through her attempt at stew. ]

I know.

[Alec looks and sounds frustrated. He misses the others, they would understand this. he was a fighter.]

I can't ask anyone else to teach me.

[He won't let a mundane be better at something than him.]

I can cook a little.

[ Enough to survive. But Alec just has to look at him with those big eyes and he's already wanting to protect him again. ] I'll cook for you.

No. I..you don't need to.

[Alec's taunt expression says it all. He wants it. He wants to be around Magnus but he doesn't want to make it worse for Magnus. He's frozen with indecision.]

I just need a few lessons.

Would you like me to teach you?

Please.

I will try to find something to offer you in return.

You don't have to do anything, Alexander. Just let me know when you want to meet up.

I do. [Alec's voice is quiet but there is a lot of meaning packed behind it.]

Tomorrow, there is no point in delaying it.

Tomorrow then. [ He offers up the very slightest smile. ] Until then?

[Alec nods. He looks like he's going to say something in response to that smile but nothing comes out. He shuts off the video and simply sends a text. He is not strong when it comes to his emotions.]

I'll see you then.

( v i d e o | day 86 | afternoon )

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