✨ video; oo1. un: pandemonium

[coyandcryptic]

[The video opens on Magnus, hair a little more mussed than usual, eyeliner in place but smudged, clearly working hard and distracted.]

Hello, everyone, I am Magnus Bane, and I have something of a dilemma.

[The camera swings around to a table with a small cauldron on it, a set of brass scales, and several small bottles and jars, most of them empty. Magnus appears again, keeping the bookshelf in view over his shoulder.]

Of course I brought my spellbook with me, and my brewing equipment—never trust a cauldron you haven't seasoned yourself—but where might one go to buy potion ingredients? I'm low on… [He looks over his shoulder, assessing the supplies he's brought with him.] ...saffron threads, vampire hair, grave dirt, lavender...well, everything. Space was at a premium and I'm afraid I couldn't bring my inventory with me.

[The phone comes with Magnus, floats with Magnus on a cloud of blue smoke, as he walks away from his brewing headquarters, and now in the background can be seen half-unpacked boxes, the walls hung with sweeping red and blue silks. There's stuff everywhere, far too much for the apartment's size, but the image steadies as Magnus turns again, sweeping out his arms.] I only need the basics for now. And if you need something, do let me know. No love potions, but I conjure up a wicked energy booster for mornings after. Or nights before.

[With a wink, Magnus snaps his fingers and the video ends in a colorful shimmer of light before the screen goes black.]

Comments

[creatio]

I'm not sure. Alec hasn't been very forthcoming with details about the future, so I don't know if what happens is in a week or a month. ( Once he'd dropped the big bomb, he'd clammed up pretty quick. Clary doesn't mind, even if her curious nature wants her to feel otherwise. )

Jace and I had been to Brocelind Forest, we were about to Portal back and then we were here. It's confusing.

( Stuff like this belongs in science fiction.

She won't dwell. She knows this means things are still fraught between the two of them, and Clary's been a defender of their relationship for too long now. She wants to do something. Even if that means just being there for Magnus and Alec separately. )

Can I bring you anything? I could stop somewhere on my way.

[coyandcryptic]

Oh, I remember that.

[That's a temporal marker that helps place where Magnus is in the timeline relative to Clary. He's a little ahead of her, but not by much, not enough that talking to her would be risky. Good, that's what he needs, and the relief shows.]

I don't know about you, but I could use a drink. Or a coffee. Or a funfetti macchiato. ...no, just come here first, we'll go out together.

[creatio]

We can drink whatever you want.

( And here is Clary aggressively barging her way into an apartment block like she owns the place, barely giving the poor guy trying to exit much more than a muttered sorry before she's heading for the stairs. )

Although I'm leaning heavily towards the alcoholic option. Guess what! The law here is eighteen.

( And it so helps. )

[coyandcryptic]

Is it really?

[He can hear her on the stairs, but Magnus stays on the phone even as he opens his front door and waits until she appears, and then he pointedly hits "end call" and pushes his phone back into his pocket so he can greet her in the hallway with a big, big hug. Yes, lifting her off her feet, spinning her around, the whole nine yards.

Then he sets her down with his hands on her shoulders and gives her a stern look.]

Clarissa Fairchild, if you think I'm going to allow you to drink...without making sure it's the best...

[And there's the mischievous grin.]

[creatio]

( She is just so pleased he's here. When he puts her down she can't stop smiling, eyes bright and pleased. )

I knew I could count on you.

( Strangely enough, the array of magical items and Magnus' friendly face has soothed her more than she thought it would. Who knew that such a short time in the Shadow World would affect her so much? )

I didn't even think to ask the powers that be here to let me pack before I arrived. I'm thinking you're definitely better at this than any of the rest of us.

[coyandcryptic]

Well, while I've never done anything quite like this—

[He gestures at this place's everything.]

—this isn't the first time I've had to set up shop somewhere very new. Come in, come in, the place is a mess, I'll be sorting it out for days so you'll need to take me as I am. First things first.

[With ceremony, he takes the sparkling stopper from a crystal decanter and pours two measures of a pale gold liquid into tiny stemmed glasses, then sweeps one up and offers it with a flourish.]

For you, my dear. Seelie wine. They say it tastes different to everyone. And after this, we explore.

[creatio]

Like Amortentia?

( But more taste than smell. Clary sniffs it anyway, before looking at Magnus over the edge of her glass. She's had a bad lot with the seelies, recently.
But she trusts him, he wouldn't harm her. So she merely lifts the glass to toast him with it. )

Cheers?

( When she takes a sip it's surprisingly nice. Like coffee and spice and something sharp underneath. Clary hums thoughtfully, licking her lips. ) Okay, that's so much better than the stuff they sell at Criminales.