[closed] can i roll a friendship check?

[ohhmrburnsides]

who: magnus + others (hmu!)
what: catch-all for september (and the last few days of august)
when: post-fire event thru september
where: wherever the fun is!
warnings: will update as necessary

feel free to catch me on plurk for plotting!

Comments

alchemyfreak™

[ohhmrburnsides]

[It's been a few days (or maybe a week? maybe more?) since the last time Magnus has seen Edward around for more than a moment or two in the living area. He'd enjoyed getting to know the guy, so his sudden absence was a disappointment. As soon as Magnus notices Ed in the living area, actually moving at a normal pace and not passing through in a rush, he takes the time to strike him up in conversation.]

Yo, Edward! It's been a hot minute. Where've you been, man?

[alchemyfreak]

[Ed was getting ready to look into some more research, planning to set up the laptop Cain gave him which was tucked under his arm as he walked through the communal living area. He grins in greeting when Magnus calls out to him, setting the computer down with a shrug.]

A bit busy, I guess. Did you get hit with that amnesia thing? The tea came with a side effect of fever.

[Among other things. He was not pleased about being sick, that had set him back and it showed in his expression when he mentioned it. He wasn't going to depress the guy with the details of what he'd forgotten though, so he quickly breezes on to the next subject.]

Funny thing, during all that chaos that was going on my old store showed up here. I didn't know the portal could do that.

[Just one more thing for the Elrics to research, obviously. He moves to the kitchen to grab a drink as he speaks, motioning with one hand.]

You want anything?

See, Al and I went to check out the store. We've been trying to figure out how to set it up, which is why we weren't here the night of the fire, either.... Guess I've just been kind of caught up in all of that ever since. Being sick, the store, repairs after the fire, trying to figure out what's causing all of these things. This place seems to have disasters left and right. It's good to catch a break, finally. Anyway-

[A wave of his hand with a sheepish smile, as if aware he's rambling.]

How've you been... Settling in all right?

[ohhmrburnsides]

If I had amnesia, I sure don't remember it.

[He forces a laugh at his own joke. He's fully aware it's not a good one.]

You guys run a store? I guess I didn't hear about it, but that explains why you've been in and out so quickly. That's cool! I should check it out. Oh, yeah—could you grab me a soda?

[When Ed asks about Magnus's settling in, he sighs.] I thought I was making some friends, but... It got kinda weird really fast. So... Eh. [He waves his hand in a so-so motion.] I don't mean like all of my friends, just... y'know, the ones I was hanging out with the most.

[alchemyfreak]

[He's polite enough to just suppress the eye roll at that joke, smirking faintly but not commenting as he grabs two sodas.]

It's complicated. Where I was before we kind of needed a store with the basics to get people settled in. There was no electricity or natural light, so we sold things like candles and blankets. My brother and I can repair things pretty fast so I got hired on for repairs and after the guy running the store disappeared I found he had left it to me. I've been running it ever since, and now... it's here.

[He doesn't sound too thrilled about it, but he hands Magnus his drink before cracking his own open with a hum.]

Al and I are trying to get our names out there for repairs again, the store itself probably won't come in very handy with all the technology and variety this place has to offer... stock and space is too limited, I think. But- no harm in keeping a small sampling of stock and just using it as a repair shop.

[He flashes a grin at that, Purg's post-apocalyptic like setting didn't allow for much, the General Store was all they had on the lower level, but here it probably wouldn't gain much interest.]

Once we're set up, I'll let you know, you can come by and be completely underwhelmed.

[At the sigh though, Ed's attention is back on Magnus and he frowns with the explanation. He wasn't really one to pry and nothing had been offered that he could gain much information from so he's not sure what to say. With his friends here, Nico and Jay, it was best left untouched. Magnus wasn't like them though, and he wasn't sure the same approach would apply here. His expression is serious, clearly upset on the guy's behalf despite barely knowing him at all.]

Do you want to talk about it?

[ohhmrburnsides]

[He gets the picture that this store isn't quite the promising opportunity that he would've thought, so he drops his enthusiasm appropriately.]

Yeah, sure thing.

[When Ed expresses interest in Magnus's problems, he scrunches his face in thought. Yeah, he does want to talk about it, but he doesn't wanna be that guy. He treads lightly—he decides he can at least skim the surface of it without making things too heavy.]

I think they tried to poison me?

[That's not heavy...?]

for aeturnus!

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Magnus has spoken to Jacob a few times, but none of their conversations have ever been substantial. It typically just amounts to, "Good morning," or "Takeout for dinner again?" Magnus does want to be more social around his roommates, but lately he's just been occupied with other things. Friends who weren't in communal housing, mostly.

...But now that he's kind of pushed those people out of his life, so he's back in square one. What better point to socialize than rock bottom?

He decides to hit up Jacob when he's cooking. Bothering people while they cook has become habit for Magnus.]

Hey, Jacob. How's it going?

[aeturnus]

[ Cain looks up from where he's got a finger in his mouth for tasting part of his concoction before he wipes it off and goes back to using the utensils as civilized people do. He raises a brow at the greeting, but goes with it for sure. Usually he's the one on the opposite end of bugging people like this. ]

Hey, Magnus. It's going pretty well for me. Am in the way of anything?

[ohhmrburnsides]

Naaaw, man, you're good. I'm just here to hang out.

[He hopes he's not coming off too strong here. Making friends isn't usually difficult for Magnus, but he feels like he kinda walked into this encounter the wrong way.]

What's cookin'?

[Smooth move, Magnus.]

[aeturnus]

That's totally allowed. It's a free common room.

[ Cain turns his attention back to the food briefly while he answers. ]

Nothing too fancy, just something from home. Arancini. You could try one when it's done if you want.

[ohhmrburnsides]

Hell yeah! I could go for one of those. Whatever they are.

[Secretly, Magnus hopes he's about to make a new Finely-cooked Food Friend to fill the void. The arancini does smell good.]

So I realized... [The words come out of his mouth like he's trying to sell a house.] I see you around here every other day, but we don't talk much. And you seem like a cool guy. So I figured I should try to change that.

... By, uh, talking. To you.

for causational!

[ohhmrburnsides]

[You know what goes good with regret? A drink. Twelve hours after ditching Taako and Lucretia at that breakfast café, Magnus decides he's had enough wallowing that he drags himself out into town to grab a beer.

Once he's there, he realizes that there isn't much of a difference between being lonely at home and being lonely in a bar. At least, with him being here, he doesn't have to deal with being moody around the roommates he hardly knows.

After he's settled in with a drink, he sees a familiar face. Vaguely familiar. He considers the pros and cons of starting a conversation with this almost-stranger, but ultimately, he figures: why not?]

Hey, haven't I seen you at the gym?

[causational]

[Usually, Eddie would be here with his coworkers, with the other detectives and a few beat cops, but tonight they were all busy on various cases or had things to do with family, and so he's here alone. It's been a bit of a struggle here, making friends with any like-minded guys who are into beer and darts but aren't cops.

But he still ends up at the bar by himself because he has nothing against trying to make some new ones. It's always worth the effort.

Which is why he's extremely pleased when someone comes over to him, asks if he's seen him at the gym. Looking up, Eddie's mouth curves into a wide smile, his eyes warm and bright. The guy is familiar, Eddie's seen him at the gym, thought of approaching him but not wanted to interrupt his reps or anything.]

Hey! Yeah, I've definitely seen you. Wanna join me? The Pale Ale here is great.

[ohhmrburnsides]

Sure! [He takes a seat next to Eddie.] Maybe I'll try that after I finish this. [He lifts his glass in a cheers motion.]

Name's Magnus Burnsides. I might've introduced myself before, except the gym is—you know, it's the gym. Don't wanna bother you when you're in the zone.

argh a million years later

[causational]

[Grinning, Eddie lifts his own glass to do a cheers in return, and then takes a pull from his own.]

Nice to meet you. I'm Eddie Thawne. And I totally get that, the gym is the gym. The only place I know where you go to suffer and be disgusting in public at the same time.

[The grin stays in place, and he leans his elbow on the bar, glancing over at Magnus.]

How long have you been in Riverview?

[ohhmrburnsides]

Suffer? I don't know what you're talking about. I love the gym. [He's joking around, of course... even though he is that one guy who actually does love working out. Like, a lot. Magnus, how?]

I think, like... [He starts to count the weeks on his fingers.] Maybe a month now? Not very long at all. What about you?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki often drops in at Taako's apartment with little fanfare, popping up when he's never expected and generally draping himself on the couch as he watches Taako bustle around. It's calming, in a way, even if it does not fall into a routine. Routine is dangerous after all. It makes you believe nothing can change.

However, this time as Loki uncloaks his magic and steps into Taako's living room, there is another man there and Loki blinks, wondering if he should leave. ]

Who are you?

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Here's what Loki has just walked into: Magnus on the couch wearing basketball shorts and a sweatshirt, eating a slice of cake with his bare hands. Frankly, Loki is lucky he's wearing this much clothing.

When he sees Loki he pauses mid-bite, startled for only a moment. Based on Loki's appearance, he can register almost instantly that this is one of Taako's friends. (It's not hard to figure out who Taako hangs around.)

Only because he's stunned, he speaks with his mouth half-full:]

Magnus?

[dothelokimotion]

[ Loki's expression doesn't twitch as he takes in Magnus' appearance. The name is familiar so he is less tense at least. ]

Chew with your mouth closed.

[ He glances around, his mouth pressed in a firm thin line. ]

Is he not here?

[ohhmrburnsides]

[When one of his crew tells him to chew with his mouth closed, he laughs it off. When this guy tells him to do so, he follows orders.]

Uh. [A shrug.] He'll be back soon. I'm just hangin' out.

[He pauses, still uneasy because this dude has just waltzed into the room like it's no big deal and hasn't even introduced himself.] Who are you again?

[dothelokimotion]

[ There's a minute twitch to Loki's lips as his command was followed. It is a small pleasure. ]

I am Loki. An . . . acquaintance.

CISCO 💯💯💯💯💯

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Magnus wastes little time trucking it to Cisco's lab. He's always kind of intimidated about going inside, what with all the science things inside he might fuck up if he were to lean on the wrong counter. So, he shoots Cisco a text by the building:]

Yo, I'm outside!

[He probably doesn't quite understand the gravity of some of the things Cisco had just texted him regarding the amnesia spores. But Magnus isn't the type to pry.]

[franciscoramon]

[ Cisco has noticed Magnus's reluctance to come into his lab before; he finds it kind of endearing, but it means that he doesn't text Magnus to come in, but instead grabs his coat and heads outside, smiling up at his friend as soon as he's out the door. There's also a hint of concern in his face, too, as he looks at Magnus for any signs of strain or distress. He'd remembered a lot of pretty not great stuff, based on the few things that Taako's told him, and even if they weigh on Magnus differently than on Taako, surely they must weigh on him.

But sometimes the best way to deal with something that heavy is just... to make it light, however possible. ]

So you think they're gonna card you at this bar? I mean, you do look pretty spry considering you're 120 or whatever.

[ Cisco sticks his hands in the pockets of his jacket and starts heading in the direction of one of his favorite bars in town: it's a little bit of a longer walk, but worth it for the atmosphere, and the quality of the drinks, and also the lack of general griminess. ]

[ohhmrburnsides]

[If Magnus is suffering any side effects from the return of his memories, they're not visible on the surface. It was a hell of a time, and he came back into a world where his family is kind of split, but, as he is wont to do, he is making the most of it. In the end, he has his family back, and that's the important thing.

He laughs lightly at Cisco's joke.] I know, I look like, hella good for my age. But I think they'll let me in.

How's it hangin', Cisco?

[franciscoramon]

[ Rather than give an automatic response to that, like he might for someone else, Cisco actually pauses to think. He doesn't need all that long, though; there are a few things troubling him, of course, because when aren't there, but otherwise... ]

Things are good.

[ He smiles up at Magnus; he sounds a little surprised with the answer, himself. Things had been... not great, for a little while. It had taken him some time, bouncing back from all that amnesia nonsense. He'd had people to help him along the way, but all the same, it had cast a pall over the last few weeks that is only now starting to lift. But at some point, without realizing it, he's gotten his way back to some approximation of normal. ]

One of my contacts in the Guard stumbled across this huge stash of tungsten which I've been super needing, so that's great, and I've been helping Yuri set up his whole scavenger hunt gift thing for Otabek, and...

[ Cisco hesitates a moment, just because he hasn't really told anyone this news, yet. Well, except Taako, but that had been different. Less of an announcement and more of a nerve-wracking moment in their friendship. But why not tell Magnus? ]

And, uh. I. Got a date, actually. On Friday. With... Eddie.

[ohhmrburnsides]

[Truthfully, he hadn't given a whole lot of thought to what Cisco might've been up to before he drank the ichor—when things were weird and he was avoiding Taako, he'd kiiiiinda been avoiding Cisco by proxy, even if they still texted each other in the interim. It felt kind of like a Losing the Friends situation. But now that he has his memories back and things are fine with him and Taako, he's relieved that hanging out with Cisco again came easy.

At this point he's kind of clueing himself into the fact that Cisco's been having troubles lately. He feels bad that he missed this in that weird avoidance period, but it seems that things are relatively well if they'd been bad. Magnus is glad for that, and it's visible in his smile. He's too empathetic.

The bit about the date takes him by surprise, if only for the fact that it's with Taako's ex. It's kind of a shock, but he quickly comes to the conclusion that Taako's prooooooobably over it, all things considered, so it's probably not a big deal. He looks pleasantly surprised.]

Hey, nice! [Just to be sure, though:] ... Does Taako know about that?