Hello!! you said that you also had ideas for a magic-averse munk👀👀 what caused it and how does it affect him? If you also bring up mefistrap i wouldnt mind (id love it actually<3) (The-jay-hums)
Hi! Thanks for the ask! I do indeed have a magic-averse Munk in my main au (I'm very creative with names I know XD) which is my "how mefistrap came together" au/story
Just be aware, you said the magic words by asking about the mefistrap of it too @the-jay-hums , it's gonna be really really long so bear with me
It is very much Mac's fault that Munk is weary of magic, Munk used to be absolutely fascinated with it just like Tugger is in the present. In this one Mac is not a D brother, him and Munk did kinda grow up together and used to be friends and then lovers in their teens/very early adulthood. And just like Tugger was with Misto every step of his magic discovery journey, Munk was with Mac
But at some point things started changing between them, they started drifting apart due to Mac's want to focus on bettering his magic and Munk being busy with his protector training. And Mac started letting his impulsivity take the wheel in trying to see what his magic can do and what he can get away with
It started with small things, misplacing other cats' stuff and other "pranks" and slowly grew into manufacturing little "accidents" and confusing others, trying to magically influence them to do certain things etc. And after a while slowly came voices blaming Mac for all those things, someone saw him do something, something only could have happened using magic, he's been hanging out with a shady crowd so of course he's up to no good etc. But whenever they got to Munk Mac was quick to dismiss them, say that they're imagining things or they just don't like him cuz his magic and are trying to ruin his reputation. And at that time Munk still trusted him and they were together, he still had his rose coloured glasses on. And maybe, just maybe Mac was using a smidge of magic to make himself a bit more convincing
It all came to ahead a little after Tugger was born, Mac getting unreasonably jealous and angry over Munk spending more time with his baby brother on top of all the time he was spending being a protector and started taking out his anger on other cats, first just verbally and messing with their things, but then magically. Someone ended up getting hurt because something went not Mac's way and it was one infraction too many. And when Munk, who's for a while now had a feeling Mac may have been manipulating him, tried to stop him Mac tried using his magic to instead make him hurt someone who tried to hold Mac back. But since he was already tired from using quite a bit of magic and his mind control skills weren't that great yet the spell broke before anything happened, and the whole thing ended up with them fighting and Mac getting kicked out
Mac's behaviour made all the Jellicles more or less distrustful of magic, either cuz they were there to witness it or from hearing stories about it, so when preteen Misto discovered his powers after hearing countless stories of Mac and his terrible magic, of how he had so much promise before going the dark path, he very much hid them to not get immediately kicked out, and only Tugger and Vic knew. But he finally got discovered years later when his control slipped, just a couple of months before the ball were he would save Old D. And Munk, while he did try to not treat him any differently, got a nagging feeling that Misto may turn out just like Mac, a pit in his stomach, a cloud of dread hanging over him and making his skin tingle and his fur stand on its ends. Because Misto is magical and Mac is too and he didn't do anything too bad until he was freshly an adult, just like Misto is now. And so Munk tried to keep his distance while trying to deal with it in a way best for the tribe, tried to not get too involved with a magical cat again, in any capacity, and asked Cori and Tanto to keep an eye on him and try to help him in any way they can (they're mystical, not magical, so there wouldn't be much help from there but better not much than nothing, Mac's constant complaint was that he had to figure everything out by himself and they know how that ended)
And then right after the ball Vic presented with magic too, and then shortly later Munk caught Tugger and Misto arguing, because Misto wanted to go and try to find Mac and ask him for help cuz ever since the ball his control over his powers got worse and he's discovering new ones and now with everyone expecting him to help his sister too he's overwhelmed and he has no idea what to do. And Munk doesn't hear Tugger pleading with him to rethink it and to ask his dad or Munk or Bustopher, anyone really for help. The ringing in his ears is too loud and the pit is growing larger and larger threatening to swallow him. Because they're on the edge of a knife and the history seems to be repeating itself right before his eyes
The same night Munk would go and try to find Bustopher, who as the twins' uncle and a cat who knows and is known by many cats would know how to go about finding a teacher for the twins. A desperate measure that he's holding onto. Because as much as he's not happy about this idea Munk would rather have a magical cat show up to the junkyard regularly to teach them rather than have Misto go off with Macavity and have two evil magical cats causing chaos out there. Three if he drags Vic along
During his hunt for Bustopher he met Feliks for the first time, and his looks and charm caught Munk's attention, plus he told him where he can find Bustopher that night and tho Munk forgot to ask for his name he wants to find him again and is quietly excited about the prospect of hopefully meeting him again. He didn't catch any signs that he's magical (and there were a few, from his eyes seemingly reflecting the candlelight that wasn't there, his unusual warmth and how he seemingly just disappeared right after Munk took a few steps to leave) so it is a bit of a shock for him a few days later to learn that he is the teacher Bustopher vaguely said that he had in mind (as Bustopher's nephew and twins' older cousin Feliks was supposed to be their teacher anyway when the right time would come, years earlier if Misto wasn't hiding his magic).
It was enough of a shock that Munk would immediately drop the possibility of anything happening between them. He doesn't trust him nor his magic but it was his idea for the lessons to happen in the junkyard so they'd have an eye on them and he does trust Bustopher and his judgement, and they do share a mutual friend so he's trying his best to not show his distrust and to keep things as smooth as possible, for everyone's sake. Afterall everyone is looking at him and following his example
And for his part in the beginning Feliks really tries to not use his magic around all the Jellicles, pre warned by Bustopher especially about Munk's aversion, keeping it to the spot the twins picked for their lessons. And he does try to get to know Munk, to get onto his good side, both cuz he still is interested (even if it got pushed down his priorities list for the moment) and because he does want him to know that he's not a threat. So he greets him every time he shows up and tries to hold a casual conversation, enough that maybe, just maybe, Munk can briefly forget about the whole magic thing
But then when the excitement and curiosity of his visits starts to die down he gets asked by Bustopher to use his magic to help move a giant piece of garbage that humans just brought in that morning. And he does, but not before asking Munk for his permission as the cat in charge. And it does touch Munk somewhere inside that he did ask. And the way he seemingly effortlessly made the magic happen and moved the thing made him realise that if he wanted to, he could easily do as much damage there as Mac if not more. And maybe, just maybe the fact that he didn't yet means he doesn't want to (It's a quiet thought that he can silence easily, he's still on guard and he's grateful for Alonzo keeping an eye out too)
This is also where Munk's fascination with magic starts shyly peeking its head out and so does his interest in Feliks. And when one day Bustopher comes by quite upset about some kittens calling the twins and Feliks weird for their magic, and that despite them talking the previous day and Feliks seeming bothered by something and Munk asking, he still didn't trust him and his reactions enough to tell him (Feliks couldn't care less about being called weird, he's an adult and he's happy to lean into the weirdness on purpose but the twins, especially Misto do really care)
So he does tell him that next time he should come to him if anything like that happens, and then, as much as everything in him screams to keep his distance, to keep himself as not involved as possible and as far away form the magic as he can, he starts including Feliks in conversations more, inviting him to sit with them whenever the twins would ask for a break, agreeing to take part in a magic trick, forcing himself to be the example for everyone else to follow so they would avoid any unsavoury situations, like a good head protector would do. And being a part of that trick earns him a rose, one conjured up from nothing, and despite sparks still dancing on the petals Munk can't force himself to just toss it. So he keeps it, hides it away under a cup in the corner of his den and pretends it's not there even when he can see its petals peppered with sparks whenever he closes his eyes
And with time and with every visit that Feliks makes to the junkyard Munk starts noticing other signs of his magic, and time and time again he gets evidence that maybe, just maybe magic is not that bad on its own and it was Mac himself who was bad. Because Feliks uses shadows to move around but doesn't try to startle anyone, not on purpose anyway. When invited by Alonzo to their usual hunt, just socially, he uses magic to get his prey to come to him instead of hunting the regular way but he doesn't do the same with cats, not that they know of. And he has fire at his fingertips just like Mac, but instead of burning something or someone he uses it to keep himself and whoever's close warm, including Munk one very rainy day. And when Munk asks about those things, asks about details and makes correct guesses Feliks doesn't get angry with him, doesn't dismiss him or whatever else, he's happy to answer the questions, or at least those that are not digging too deep. And the roses keep coming
And when in the aftermath of Macavity trying to trick Munk with magic Demeter suggests Feliks should check him over for any leftover spells or magical time bombs, Munk does allow him to do so without a second thought. Maybe because he's tired and Alonzo backs Demeter up. Or maybe because the way Mac almost tricked him made him fear something has happened to Feliks and he was truly afraid for him and ready to fight Mac again to get him back safely until he saw him, all safe and unharmed laughing talking with older Jellicles about most mundane things. And Munk's only now realising how all the feelings have sneaked up on him. Especially when later that night Feliks shares a secret with him, of how when in use magic changes every magical cats' appearance even if in a smallest way, for Misto and Vic making their coats all shimmery and sparkly, for Mac bringing out the red of his coat and the green of his eyes, and for him changing his eye colour. From gold to the brown that first caught Munk's attention when they first met all those months ago. And Munk's less worried and more fascinated to realise he must be always using at least a smidge of magic cuz he never up until then saw his eyes be any different. And when he does see them he's only slightly surprised to realise he does like them more in their magic induced state
Shortly after that eventful day Munk and a few other protectors get invited to meet up with the Roof Cats for a little anti-Macavity excercise, something they've been doing for years after he's left to practice fighting against a magical cat. It's simple rules, Feliks in a costume borrowed from their Gus, throwing magic around while they try to catch him, he's not a fighter so it's not a perfect match but his and Mac's power sets are similar enough for that part to work (Mac stopped using much magic when trying to bother them after he left and they started doing this, no use wasting energy when they know how to avoid most of it, so why wouldn't they share it to now a friendly fellow bothered by Mac tribe)
And Munk finds himself not as scared as he thought he'd be, he's actually quite thrilled, avoiding all the fire and objects flying around, avoiding stepping into shadows and looking out for any unusual movement in them as to not get caught. And even when at the end Feliks freezes them all for a long moment, just the way he knows Mac did during the ball, even tho Munk's body doesn't listen to him and he hates it, it not painful the way Mac did it and somehow he can't really be afraid. Because it's Feliks who's doing it and by now Munk knows very well that if he wanted to do damage he could. He just doesn't want to
And when soon back at home Jemima runs towards them with a flame in their paws, there is just surprise, no pit in Munk's stomach, no paralysing dread coming over him, just the unexpectedness of it and the usual worry about a kitten discovering a new dangerous skill. His shoulder aches where the scratch Mac gave him not so long ago is, but it's more at the thought of Mac trying to get to her, trying to steal his daughter from them than the thought of her wielding the same powers (it helps that Feliks took over for a second while they were frozen in shock, asked her to show off her flame and turned it into sparks before Demeter quickly gathered herself and sat next to him and asked to be shown the flame too. And a promise to Jemi to teach her too if her mom allows it helps too)
And when the cousins accidentally get high off their minds on catnip he doesn't fear that they're gonna accidentally destroy the place with their magic, just that they're gonna be unwell when they sober up and that something may happen to Feliks while he attempts to make his way home in that state. So arranges "babysitters" for the twins, someone to keep Jerrie and Teazer busy as a punishment for their prank and he invites Feliks to his den for the night, no matter the weirdly reacting shadows and the sparks appearing with his every move (in the moment he forgot about all the flowers, all the roses Feliks has given him over the months and that he's kept. But it's all good, they had to have that conversation anyway)
Even when the next time that Mac attacks the tribe Munk's a little less scared, and him and Feliks make a good team, a good couple, Feliks taking cats out from under Mac's spells, Munk watching his back. And it works and they're winning until just before he runs away Mac goes for the same move he's tried on Munk all those years ago when him and Munk fought. And this time he's successful and Munk does end up hurting Feliks right as he's taking the spell off of him. And it's not the magic that truly scares him, not the mind control, nor Feliks' accidental magic that follows, nor seeing some of his powers that Munk has never seen before, it's the fact that he's hurt him and the almost coma from overuse of magic that makes Feliks dead to the world for a few hours. And Munk's not backing down, he's not as afraid as he was, not of magic at least, just of Mac and his twisted plans, and of whether Feliks is going to be okay (and he is and he doesn't blame him, mind control is a tricky thing and if there's anyone besides Mac who knows all about it is Feliks)
And it truly doesn't hit Munk how much things have changed until he joins Feliks for the Roof Ball and wonders at the magic making the air electric. And then again during the Jellicle Ball, Feliks at his side and a little less warm because magic is hard when it's not his moon being full, while the twins make the night bright with their magic and he's happy to see it. And that year there's no interruptions, no scares, do magic making the night dark, just the one that illuminates it
