riverviewlogs | generic catch-all [closed]

(Lucretia and Taako have been mildly friendly to each other lately, so she's decided to push her luck by swinging by, seeing if she can hang out with the rest of the gang for a bit (though she gives one of Taako's wards a pointed little ping on the way in, just in case he doesn't want to accidentally run into her). She's even stayed away the requisite amount of days required for Barry and Lup to get their long-awaited reunion out of their systems; in short, it feels safe to visit now. Maybe they can all do a movie, or just sit around and talk? Almost like old times.

Happily, Lucretia's first encounter once inside is Magnus. She actually runs into him in the kitchen with his head directly in the fridge: a familiar sight. He hasn't got any pants on. Alas, also a familiar sight. She hardly blinks as she comes on without announcing her presence, crossing to the bench to find the jug. Thanks to this, coffee has become necessary.)

Sorry, am I disturbing something? Should I come back later?

[The sound of Lucretia's voice only startles him for a second; it's still familiar, so he recovers quickly. He's holding some packaged leftovers in his mouth when he removes his head from the fridge.

Muffled:] Oh, hey.

[As he closes the door, he removes the obstacle from his mouth.] Nah, s'just breakfast time. You're always invited to breakfast time. [He continues his food prep routine like her presence is no big deal, opening the box to reveal that his breakfast of choice today is barbecue nachos. Breakfast of champions. He doesn't consider his pantslessness until he's started the microwave timer.]

Oh—oops. [He glances down at his boxers, but he shrugs it off.] Sorry 'bout it.

(Lucretia snorts with laughter at the sight of him, but returns to making herself some coffee like it's nothing. While she's at it, she warms a cup up for Magnus, fishes a strainer out of the little drawer beneath the bench so she can make him tea. Magnus continues to make breakfast for what is presumably now the pair of them. This is very reminiscent of Starblaster days to the point where the sight of her aged hands when she goes to pour the boiled water takes Lucretia by surprise, if only for a brief moment.

Stupid.)

It's fine, (she says, waving a hand dismissively,) honestly, it feels like home. Here.

(She places the mug down his end of the little island in the middle of the kitchen. It's in his mug. Or, at least, she has presumed that this is his mug by sight alone.)

What's cooking?

Jus' some leftovers, [he says, followed by a yawn.

Does it occur to Magnus that Lucretia might want to know what the leftovers are? Nah. But it must occur to him that she might want something for her coffee, because when he retrieves some honey for his tea, he also grabs some creamer and places it next to Lucretia.

The microwave dings and he sets his plate of soggy nachos on the island, positions it to share with Lucretia.]

We also have, like, bagels n' shit, if you want more of a real breakfast. [Magnus enjoys shoveling sauce-drenched pulled pork monstrosities into his gob, but he knows that's not for everybody.]

Oh, (she says when Magnus sets down his limp nachos, reaching out to pluck one from the bowl. She's not one to turn down free food though, so she tries it. Swallows without... really having to chew.)

Thank you Magnus, they're so... soft.

(She makes a face.) Where are those bagels at?

[Magnus isn't even offended at her reaction to the nachos. He laughs.]

Siddown, I gotcha. [He retrieves a bagel from the pantry and sticks it in the toaster, followed by cream cheese from the fridge, placed in front of Lucretia. He's having a little bit of fun playing waiter. ...Hoodie-and-boxers-clad waiter.

Now that he's been walking around and holding conversation for a few minutes, he's woken up a bit.] How's life, Creesh?

(It's impossible not to fall for Magnus' rustic hospitality; Lucretia smiles as she watches him fetch her things, elbow propped on the counter, chin on her hand.)

Full service, huh? I should come here for breakfast more often. (It's maybe a joke. She yawns.)

Good, good. Pretty routine all in all. Magnus– I sort of hate it.

Oh, that's—Oh.

[There is a pause, but Magnus finds himself and pointedly returns to the fridge for a moment and grabs what appears to be a pitcher of tomato juice and a bottle of vodka. It's nothin' fancy—it ends up in plastic cups with no garnish—but he serves the two of them up some Bloody Mary's (Taako's recipe).]

What's goin' on?

(She chuckles, accepting her cup gratefully; a Bloody Mary in a plastic cup is perfect. This is how she feels. She taps it against his own in a mock clink before she has a sip.)

Thank you. It's just that I've been here for almost a year and I'm– it feels strange. I feel like I should be moving on.

[Thoughtfully, he takes a sip of his own.]

Now that you mention it—I think it's been eight months for me. I didn't realize it until you said so, but it does kinda feel like... hm. [He's not great at metaphors, give him a second.] Like I'm in the falling action part of the year. Like there's only a few months left. Dang, I might still be here after that.

[He pauses, brings a hand to his chin.]

Do you want to move on?

Yes, exactly.

(That's the perfect way to describe it. It does feel exactly like the winding down of a cycle, when all of them used to get so restless and eager for somewhere new to be. Lucretia swirls her Bloody Mary thoughtfully.

When she glances up, Magnus is looking at her. Is his expression slightly knowing, or is she just imagining it?)

I... (she hesitates.) Yes? No. I don't know. I should say yes, but...

Why? I mean—why do you think you should want to move on?

[He asks this genuinely, not rhetorically. He's forgotten about his food and drink for the moment. Across is face is a hint of concern, but he hopes it comes across more like attentiveness.]

(She catches the concern and sighs, running a hand light over the top of her head.)

I don't– I think I have imposter syndrome. I should want to go back home and fix everything- and I do, Magnus, believe me- but... part of me wants to stay.

(It's clear she feels guilty about this. Her posture has grown very tense.)

[He has to pause and think about this one, to avert his gaze into the dead space of the kitchen.]

Actually, I... I mean, yeah, I guess we gotta go home eventually, but. [He pouts a little, looking into his cup without drinking.] But I was having so much fun here I kinda forgot about it.

[Magnus hadn't thought about going home to fix things until this moment, actually. It's clear he feels guilty about that.

When he's done pouting, he looks back at Lucretia.] I want to stay, too. And I'd be real sad if you left without me.

[There's an implied but... at the end of that statement.]

(It's wild that this is the first time she's really talked about this. Lucretia supposes there have been plenty of distractions, plenty of things she's been able to throw herself into in lieu of having to sit and think.)

I know what you mean.

(A small, guilty silence hangs between the both of them for a moment before Magnus breaks it.)

I'm not– I don't want to leave without you, either. (The thought of this is distressing, actually. She's been living on borrowed time here, and she has no idea when it will run dry and she'll be forced back to just outside of Wonderland, alone and injured and panicked.) I don't want to leave you, or Lup or Barry or Taako. I don't want to leave Beverly.

generic catch-all [closed]

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