Magnus watched the boy with interest as he leaned against the doorway. Everything about Alec was simply adorable, especially right now. He did his best not to chuckle as the boy shifted his feet nervously before walking towards him, and lifting the bouquet in his hands to give to Magnus.
"Izzy said I had to get you something," Alec explained, rubbing the back of his neck as Magnus took the roses, bringing them to his face with a smile.
"I wasn't sure what to get you exactly but she said roses were classic so . . ." Alec finished his explanation off with a shrug as if to say "so here you go".
Magnus dropped the flowers from his face, revealing his beaming smile to Alec.
"They're beautiful. Thank you Alec."
Alec flushed and looked away, tucking his hands into the pockets of his jeans. Magnus just snickered at the nervous display and stepped inside his loft.
"Do come in darling," he said, walking towards the kitchen.
After a small moment, Alec followed him. Magnus led him through the living room, which looked much different from the party as there was actually furniture and the place was lit by normal lighting as opposed to the disco lights from the party.
"You can have a seat if you'd like," Magnus said, gesturing to the array of furniture which consisted of a two brightly colored lounge chairs, a coffee table and a leather couch. "I just have to find a vase for these and I'll be right back."
Magnus walked into the kitchen, not turning back but could tell Alec had chosen to sit on the leather couch, the telltale groaning sound of the leather alerting him of this fact. It was a move that admittedly surprised Magnus, as part of him thought someone as nervous as Alec would have chosen one of the chairs where Magnus couldn't sit too close to him. Magnus smiled to himself at this thought, opening a cabinet under the sink where he last remembered seeing a vase.
He quickly found the object, grabbing it and closing the sink cabinet before rinsing the dust off of the vase and filling it with water before sliding the flowers inside, placing the vase in the center of the kitchen table with an admiring look.
Magnus did a little spin as he danced, as the chorus of one of his favorite songs played from his iPod (he couldn't cook or do any household chore without some sort of music playing), over to the kitchen counter. Like Alec, or Isabelle really, Magnus had thought it was best to bring a gift on the first date, such as flowers or a bottle of wine. But when he really thought about it, flowers weren't the type of gift you gave to someone like Alec at all, and wine was absolutely out of the question considering their first alcohol induced night together.
Instead, Magnus had settled for another classic first date gift, a box of chocolates. It was simple, perfect for someone like Alec, and Magnus had even chosen the assorted kind as he wasn't quite sure what flavor Alec preferred. Magnus also made a mental reminder of the time left on the lasagna, as their over timer was broken thanks to an incident at a party a few months ago.
"Five more minutes," Magnus said to himself.
Turning off the iPod, and grabbing the box Magnus headed back into the living room, hiding the box behind him. Once in there he found Alec crouched on the ground, hovering over a tiny gray and white tabby.
"You've met the Chairman I see." Magnus commented with a smirk, striding towards the crouching boy.
Alec blinked and looked up, still absently stroking the cat.
"Err, yeah. I think he likes me."
As if on cue Chairman Meow's tongue flicked out, licking Alec's hand like he was agreeing with his owner's statement.
Magnus smiled as Alec lifted himself up back onto the couch, the cat still liking his outstretched hand.
"Good. I don't think I could date anyone my cat doesn't like." Magnus said as he took a seat beside Alec, still hiding the chocolates behind his back.
Alec smiled at this, cheeks flushing pink and the cat walked away, his interest in the new boy waning. Magnus felt his heart flutter a bit at Alec's smiled, something about it was so warm and endearing, and Magnus felt himself swooning internally.
"So what's that?" Alec asked, pointing behind Magnus.
"What's what?" Magnus teased.
Alec regarded him suspiciously, ". . . behind your back. Do you have something?"
With a chuckle, Magnus quickly gave up the ruse, grabbing the box from behind him and showing it to Alec.
"Great minds think alike I guess. You do like chocolate I hope."
Alec blinked slowly taking the box from Magnus and just staring at him, before looking back up at Magnus. His cheeks were flushed a light pink again and Magnus began to wonder if that was just a permanent thing about him as they seemed to be more red or pink than their natural pale color.
"Thanks, but you didn't have to do this. Iz said I had to get something because the rules of dating or whatever. And according to these rules, since our date was here I had to get you something."
Magnus shrugged, "That may be, but I've never been one for convention."
Alec laughed, "You don't seem the type."
Magnus nodded in agreement, "Though, I must say you may have went a little overboard in the gift giving arena yourself."
Alec stuttered and stammered his excuse, but Magnus just continued with a teasing grin plastered on his face.
"I mean having a huge soccer star here is enough, but then you add the roses- a little overwhelming for even someone of my stature to deal with."
Alec blushed, realizing Magnus was simply teasing him.
"I'm not a soccer star," Alec mumbled, not quite sure how to respond so he resorted to the humility he was so used to.
Magnus quirked an eyebrow, "Not what the papers say."
Alec gave him a sheepish look. "Well, it's not really true. I'm alright I guess, I just got lucky really, if anyone is the star it's my brother. He's an amazing athlete."
"I haven't read about him getting any scholarships," Magnus challenged, feeling a bit bad that even with a scholarship proving his ability, Alec didn't acknowledge his accomplishment.
"You would, but he quit the team. Well, technically he was kicked off, but he knew what he was doing. He just couldn't quit willingly, he didn't want to disappoint our parents. So he got himself kicked off."
"What'd he do?" Magnus asked, noting the absent way Alec played with the ribbon of the box.
"Insulted Coach," Alec said the word 'Coach' as if it were his actual name, "said something along the lines of him being a living example of the expression 'those who can't do teach.'"
While Alec clearly didn't agree with the method Jace had chosen, he couldn't help but smile as he told the story. It was something so characteristically Jace, manipulating those around him to get the exact reaction he wanted.
Magnus snickered, "That ought to do the trick. But it was what he was looking for right; he didn't want to play anymore."
Alec nodded with a distant smile, "Yeah, Jace is good at that."
"What?"
Alec looked pensive for a moment, and Magnus watched as his hand, which was still toying with the ribbon, came to a standstill, like Alec had to stop moving to think properly or something.
"Getting what he wants. He's just smart like that, though if you didn't know him you'd think he wasn't . . . but that's what he wants I guess- low expectations."
"You sure do give him a lot of credit," Magnus noted.
"It's true, all freshman year and half sophomore year he had a 4.0 GPA and he was the star of both the soccer and football team. Sometime last year he just . . . gave up. And I don't know why, because he won't tell anyone what's wrong and our parents aren't around enough to ask."
"Got to love some old fashioned teenage rebellion," Magnus said with a sigh, though his own teen years weren't far behind him.
Alec seemed to consider this as an explanation, though Magnus thought he wasn't as in deep of thought as before as he went back to playing with the ribbon.
"Nah, I think it's something more than that. Outlandish rebellion is more Izzy's style."
Magnus snickered, "So, Jace is Mr. Perfect, Isabelle is the rebellious one, and from what you told me last night Max is the stereotypical baby of the family. So what about you?"
Alec crinkled a brow, "What about me?"
"Like what are you in the family? The nerd? The adorable soccer player? The one with the secret porn stash hidden under his bed?"
Instead of blushing, as Magnus had expected him to, Alec just let out a small chuckle and shook his head.
"I don't know. I'm just me I guess."
Magnus frowned; a bit unsatisfied at the answer, but knowing he wouldn't get much further he changed the subject.
"You know, it wouldn't completely spoil our appetites if we each just had one little piece of chocolate before dinner," Magnus said in a low voice, reaching his hand over to touch Alec's.
Alec tensed a bit as Magnus's hand wrapped around his and he froze, honestly not even realizing the once neatly tied bow was now loose and undone thanks to his nervous hand movements.
"I didn't even realize what I was doing," Alec admitted, looking up at Magnus their hands still wrapped together.
Not saying anything, but untangling his hand from Alec's, Magnus took the box back, sliding the ribbon the rest of the way off and opening the box.
Just for show Magnus tapped his long tan fingers against his chin, as if deciding just which morsel he wanted. Not that it mattered really; they all looked the same so even if he had a preference, he doubted he'd be able to pick it out purposefully.
Magnus gave a satisfied smirk as he felt Alec's intense gaze setting upon him, and he plopped a random chocolate into his mouth, making a show out licking his fingers. He felt a swell of pride as Alec's eyes widened at the scene, just as Magnus had wanted.
"Mm," Magnus hummed, unable to resist further teasing the boy, "milk chocolate."
Alec unconsciously licks his dry lips and Magnus smiled to himself, sucking his thumb in another elaborate gesture before tipping the box to Alec.
"Want one?"
Alec blinked, his eyes still on Magnus's mouth, before he nodded in response not quite trusting his voice.
Unlike Magnus, Alec had no intention of making a show of it, and he just popped a random candy into his mouth. Magnus thought it was cute all the same, because while Magnus was all about elaborate gestures, Alec seemed to be more into simple ones like everything about him Magnus had seen up to this point. He was a simple, straight to the point kind of guy. The honest blunt way Alec delivered his every line was incredibly endearing.
Unfortunately for Alec, not only did he not make an extremely erotic show about it, but his eyes widened with the horrifying realization that the candy in his mouth was not milk chocolate as Magnus's had been. Instead it was a crunchy, peanut chocolate which Alec immediately spat out, in a move as unattractive as possible.
Magnus's catlike eyes widened in surprise as Alec shot up out of his seat, yelling "Allergic!" in way of explanation.
Magnus got up to follow flinching as the bathroom door slammed shut and he heard the lock twist, knowing Alec was likely embarrassed as all hell at the moment. He stepped in the direction of the bathroom, at the door about to knock as he heard the simultaneous sounds of the sink running, a retching noise, and the toilet flushing.
He chose to lower his hand, instead choosing to go the nearby closet containing towels and washcloths, choosing one of the softer washcloths and going into the kitchen, dampening the item before he went to the medicine cabinet.
Truth be told, Magnus had never been around someone who had an allergic reaction so he had no idea what to do. He figured if it was an emergency Alec would have said something instead of hauling off and locking himself in the bathroom. Though it was Alec and the boy was quite the mystery to Magnus, who prided himself on being able to figure out others rather quickly.
Not wanting to ponder on anything to long, Magnus grabbed a bottle of Aspirin, figuring it was the cure for everything else, so why not an allergic reaction?
Seconds later, Magnus tentatively knocked on the bathroom door.
"Alec?" He asked, pressing his ear against the door- not sure how the boy was doing.
He heard the toilet flush once more, a shuffling noise and the sink being shut off. Then the telltale sound of the door unlocking and the knob twisting and the door swung open.
Magnus took in Alec's form, a twinge of guilt encompassing him as he saw the dark mussed hair, pressed against his flushed face- from embarrassment or being sick Magnus didn't know. He winced as Alec leaned against the bathroom door for support, like he couldn't quite stand on his own.
"I brought you something," Magnus offered softly, lifting the damp washcloth and Aspirin.
Alec furrowed his eyebrows as he thankfully took both items.
"Aspirin?" He asked, looking back and forth between the pills and Magnus.
Magnus' lip twitched with bemusement.
"I wasn't quite sure what to do when someone had an allergic reaction. . ."
Alec just snorted and smiled, putting the bottle of Aspirin on the sink counter.
"Thanks. I didn't really have an allergic reaction though . . . more so an overreaction."
Magnus took a tentative step forward, and placed a hand on Alec's face.
"You know, you could have told me you were allergic to chocolate. It wouldn't have hurt my feelings."
Alec snorted again, but leaned into Magnus's touch, bringing his own hand to Magnus's.
"It's not chocolate I'm allergic to. I'm allergic to nuts," Alec explained.
His face reddened when he realized the possible implications of that statement and Magnus opted not to go for the obvious joke. The boy had already been through enough embarrassment tonight.
Magnus leaned in closer, his forehead nearly touching Alec's as he began to stroke Alec's face.
"Now I know better for next time."
Alec's breath caught in his throat, "Next time?"
Magnus just smiled, and let out a small chuckle.
"Well, I guess that depends if you like my cooking or not. Though I must say, I do make a mean lasagna."
Alec smiled at that, relaxing a bit and he felt his face begin to cool off.
Then, unable to resist Magnus added: "Please tell me you're not lactose intolerant or anything."
Alec laughed and shook his head, locking eyes with Magnus.
"No, I'm not." Alec replied his voice a bit tight as Magnus leaned in to close the small distance between them.
A loud beeping noise caused them both to start and pull away. Alec placed his hand over his heart and after a short moment he realized that the beeping noise was the fire alarm.
Funny he hadn't smelled anything burning . . .
Magnus stepped forward, apparently his sense of smell better than Alec's when they both heard a commotion in the kitchen.
"Damnit Magnus!" A voice reprimanded, and there was a slamming noise along with a loud fan being turned on.
Magnus was in the living room, on his way to the kitchen when a figure appeared in the doorway, looking pissed. Alec remained in the bathroom, unsure of what to do.
"Honestly Bane, how in the hell are you expecting to get laid with scorched. . . whatever the hell that was."
A strangled noise escaped Alec's throat, and Ragnor's attention snapped to behind where Magnus stood- seeing Alec for the first time.
He looked sheepish, and gave Magnus an apologetic look. Alec couldn't see Magnus' expression from where he stood, but he guessed Magnus didn't look happy. There seemed to be a stare off between the two and Ragnor seemed to quickly lose the match.
"Well, I guess I ought to be going now. . ." Ragnor said, rubbing the back off his head, looking to Alec like a scolded child.
He gave a small wave to Alec, and a look that he couldn't quite interpret before leaving the loft. Was it a look of apology?
Magnus, Alec thought.
But it didn't quite matter as Magnus turned from his position of staring at Ragnor and gave Alec a smile, clasping his hands together as if nothing had just happened.
"So, there goes the whole lasagna thing, which is a bit of a disappointment because it is one of my specialties. But what do you say to eating out? I know a wonderful place on the corner-"
At Alec's noise of protest Magnus stopped, blinking in confusion when he remembered.
"Oh right, closeted, I forgot!" Magnus exclaimed, smacking his forehead not seeing Alec's ashamed look.
Magnus strode toward the couch, grabbing his phone.
"So I guess we'll order in? Chinese sound good?" He asked, looking at Alec as he put the phone to his ear.
Alec nodded, patting down his back pockets in search of his wallet and pulling it out to make sure he still had cash. He did.
Magnus saw this and waved him off, covering the speaker of the phone with his hand, "You can pay me back next time."
Alec felt dubious, as far as he concerned this night had just consisted of one embarrassing moment after another. Why would Magnus even be considering another date with him?
Maybe he was just being nice, Alec conceded. There was no way in hell he actually wanted there to be a next date, they hadn't even eaten yet and Alec had somehow managed to ruin the mood Magnus seemed to have worked hard to achieve.
He doubted he would even keep the flowers once he left, because one he really thought about it they didn't go with anything in the bright and eclectic home. Alec was so lost mentally berating himself he didn't notice Magnus asking him what he wanted to eat.
He ordered the Chicken Mai Fun, while Magnus went with the Sweet and Sour Pork.
"Should be here in about fifteen minutes," Magnus explained as he hung up.
"That's quick," Alec replied, finally getting the nerve to step out of the bathroom. For some reason he felt being in the same room as Magnus further increased his risk of embarrassment.
Magnus smiled at him, "What can I say? They like me there."
He finished his statement with a glittery wink and Magnus looked away. Not sure if Magnus was serious or not but it would surprise Alec if he was serious. He could imagine a lot of people liking and doing favors for Magnus. He just had that air to him, like you wanted him to like you for some reason. Alec knew he wanted Magnus to like him.
"Kidding darling, I'm just a good customer." Magnus said, assuming Alec's pensive look was a self-conscious one.
Alec just gave a half smile and stuffed his hand in his pockets unsure of what to do as they waited on their food. He wanted to start a conversation, but they had covered a lot of ground last night already.
Thankfully, Magnus seemed to have no qualms about what to say or do in such situations.
"Help me with this, would you darling?"
Magnus gestured to the coffee table, which he had lifted up on one side, and was asking Alec to grab the other end. Alec was confused, but complied with the request anyway, grabbing his end and walking alongside Magnus as they placed it out of the way.
"I do this every time I order Chinese food, which is a lot," Magnus explained, going to the couch and grabbing a brightly colored blanket. He laid the blanket on the floor neatly and tossed two pillows on top of it.
"You sit on the floor?" Alec asked with a snort.
Magnus glanced up at him, seeing Alec was being more teasing than condescending.
"Yes, it makes it feel more authentic."
Alec blinked, "I don't think that's true. My parents travel a lot and they never said anything about sitting on the floor to eat in China."
Alec sat down on a pillow anyway and Magnus smiled.
"It's not."
"It's not what?" Alec asked, looking up at Magnus who was still standing.
"It's not true, but I used to think it was true when I was a teenager so I did it anyways. You're the first person to ever point that out though."
Magnus took a seat in front of Alec, sitting down Indian style.
"It's weird to hear that. . . 'When you were a teenager'" Alec said nervously.
Magnus shook his head bemusedly.
"I compliment your intelligence and you focus on the fact that I am no longer a teenager."
Alec made a strangled noise in the back of his throat, still choosing to ignore the compliment.
"How old are you anyway? I mean, it's not a huge deal or anything, but I mean I tried to check on Facebook and you didn't have it on there . . ." Alec trailed off, fearing he had said too much.
Magus cocked an eyebrow, "You Facebook stalked me?"
"Err, I just . . . I mean I was just trying to see . . ." Alec continued to stutter and stammer until Magnus tossed his head back in laughter, then reaching forward and putting his hand on Alec's knee.
"I was only joking. I find it flattering really."
Alec just looked down, focusing on the hand on his knee, and then glanced back up at Magnus.
"So, how old are you?"
Magnus smiled, "I'm twenty one, though I like to consider myself eternally nineteen?"
"Why nineteen?"
"Because I had some of the best adventures of my life when I was nineteen, it was a good time for me."
Alec just nodded, as if the explanation made perfect sense. He opened his mouth to say something but Magnus lifted a finger to silence him.
"Hold that thought. Food's here."
Alec gave him a confused look as Magnus made to stand, walking towards the front door. Just as he twisted the door knob Alec heard a knock and Magnus turned to him with a smirk.
"How did you?"
Magnus winked, "Magic."
Alec chuckled to himself as Magnus opened the door. There was a short exchange, and Alec listened on with interest as he swore he heard Magnus and the delivery man exchange a few words in Chinese. The short conversation was over as quickly as it had start and Magnus was shutting the door, a bag of food in his hand.
"Did you just speak Chinese?" Alec asked, unable to quell his curiosity.
Magnus smiled, setting the bag down and taking a seat in front of Alec again.
"Yes, I know a little bit of many languages."
At Alec's impressed look he just shrugged. "I like to converse with my delivery people. It's how I get such great service."
"You're something else," Alec said in a low voice, as Magnus handed him his box of Chicken Mai Fun.
"Something good I hope," Magnus said, taking out his own food now.
Alec nodded, "It is."
Magnus looked up at Alec, "Good to know."
Alec had the strongest desire to just close the distance between them, as they were about to earlier and just kiss the man but then again he was too nervous so instead he gave him a small smile. Magnus returned the smile and gave him a pair of chopsticks. Alec's smiled faded into a worried look, as he twisted the objects in his hand uncomfortably.
"Do you know how to use chopsticks?" Magnus asked noticing his discomfort, as he had already wielded the chopsticks expertly to eat his Sweet and Sour Pork.
"No, I can . . . I just haven't in a while is all."
Magnus nodded in understanding, his attention back on his food as Alec stared uncertainly at his own. He didn't want to look like an idiot in front of Magnus, and he had never quite mastered the use of chopsticks, always resorting to fork and knife in the end. But he couldn't tell Magnus that, no he was far too stubborn for that.
Alec poked at the noodles, twisting his hands, the utensils and his head in multiple directions hoping to find the proper way to use them before Magnus looked up and noticed what a fool he was making of himself. He finally thought he had got a hold of it, the noodles wrapped around his chopsticks loosely, a bit of chicken in the mix as well and he hung it over his head a bit before dropping the food into his mouth.
Sure it was a messy technique, and definitely not the prettiest, but it worked.
Magnus cleared his throat, having watched Alec's many attempts with some amusement. Alec's feeling of victory faded as he looked up at Magnus with a grimace.
"Are you sure you don't want to use these?" Magnus asked, holding a set of plastic silverware in his outstretched hand.
Alec bit his lip, a light flush crossing his cheekbones as he nodded, taking the silverware from Magnus. As he did so, Alec mentally added yet another thing that had gone wrong that night- there was no way Magnus was going to ask him back again. He was sure of it.
Magnus watched the scene and laughed to himself, as he added another item to Alec's list of positively adorable characteristic. How did he get so lucky?
The rest of the dinner passed by rather uneventfully, there was easy conversation (a rarity for Alec as he considered himself awkward in social situations), lots of laughs (on both sides though Alec was sure Magnus was laughing more at him than with him, after all he was never known for being the funny one- that was left to Jace or even Max), and it was sadly brought to a close when Alec received a text from Isabelle.
Izzy: bed checks 2nite.
Feeling disappointed, Alec had told Magnus he had to go.
"So soon?" Magnus asked with a frown.
Alec nodded, sure the question was out of pure politeness and figured Magnus probably couldn't wait to get rid of him. It hurt, because he was sure this was one of the last times he'd get with the one possible man that would possibly be interested in him and he had messed it up within the span of just a few hours.
"We have uh bed checks," he explained, feeling even more like a child compared to this worldly man.
Magnus snickered, "Bed checks?"
Alec looked to his feet, "Yeah, make sure everyone is in by curfew."
Magnus shook his head, murmuring something about rich kids as they both stood. Alec shifted uncomfortably, not sure how to do this.
"Err; I guess I'll see you around then?" Alec said, though not expecting their paths to ever actually cross again.
Magnus smiled, finding Alec more and more adorable as each moment passed.
"I certainly hope so."
Alec nodded; clearing a lump in his throat that he didn't even know had formed. He went to walk away towards the door when he felt Magnus grab him by the elbow, pulling him close.
"Not even a goodbye kiss?" Magnus asked his voice low and sultry.
Alec swallowed thickly, utterly confused by it was a request he didn't mind complying with. Before he could reply he felt Magnus' soft lips against him, and all his hopeless thoughts faded into the background of his mind as he was surrounded by everything Magnus.
He tasted like a mixture of the Sweet and Sour Pork and cherry lip balm, an odd combination that somehow tasted amazing to Alec. He smelled like sandalwood and his soft hair had fallen forward and was tickling Alec's face, causing him to smile into the kiss. His smile matched Magnus' own and before Alec knew it, a light pressure was on his chest that he recognized as Magnus's hand, stopping the kiss.
He looked up at Magnus, his eyes glazed and lips slightly swollen and his breathing heavy.
"Wouldn't want to make you late for those bed checks," Magnus said his voice sounding raspy.
Alec nodded, "Right. Bed checks, I almost forgot."
Magnus just laughed, though it sounded tired. Biting his lip, and summoning all of the courage within himself, Alec grabbed Magnus and pulled him in for one last, short closed mouth kiss.
"Thanks for tonight," he said, pulling away and heading towards the door again.
Magnus was on his heels, as he opened the door, about to leave for good when Magnus grabbed his arm again. Alec turned to him, feeling surprised.
"Did you have a good time tonight?" Magnus asked, looking the slightest bit unsure.
The best, Alec wanted to say but that damn lump in his throat was back and he couldn't manage to speak the words to he simply nodded. Magnus smiled.
"So what do you say we do it again sometime? Maybe next Saturday?"
"Really?" Alec squeaked, feeling too excited about the prospect of another date with Magnus to be embarrassed.
Magnus laughed, and it sounded less tired from his earlier one. Alec guessed he had regained him composure, which Alec still was struggling to do.
"Really. So what do you say?"
"That'd be great," Alec replied still disbelieving.
"Alright then," Magnus said releasing his grip on him. Alec felt a bit sad at the loss, but he looked back up at the man and smiled.
"See you next Saturday," Alec said as he walked down the stairs.
Magnus watched the boy fade from his vision before shutting the door behind him, a grin that he was sure was going to last at least a week plastered on his face.
.
.
.
A little while later Alec was sitting on the edge of his bed, opening and closing his phone having an internal war with himself. Finally, he settled the war within himself, a text he felt appropriate in front of him.
Alec: Goodnight Magnus
He closed the phone immediately, throwing himself back down on the bed, willing himself to sleep but secretly hoping on a text back from the man infiltrating his every thought. He waited a few more minutes and when he got nothing he couldn't fight the disappointed feeling within his gut.
Maybe he's asleep, Alec thought, though he doubted that was true as it wasn't even midnight yet.
Alec curled into himself, closing his eyes and willing himself to sleep when he felt his phone vibrate beside him.
Magnus: good night and sweet dreams Alec
Alec smiled, staring at the text for longer than one should and he pressed the phone against himself, falling asleep with his cellphone cradled against his chest- the text message still open.
I'm so sorry this took so long, I had tests and stuff all week and I recently discovered Jogan (it's one of my favorite ships now, canon or not). Thanks so much for all of the reads, reviews, alerts, and favorites! The next few chapters should be out a lot more quickly.