Wednesday prompt: poison apple
My dear anon I hope you enjoy ‘this eldritch delight’ because you inspired the next chapter of it!
Alec is admiring the orchard Magnus brought him to, reaching up to pluck an apple when a frantic voice yells, “wait!”
Alec glances at Magnus, gets an eye roll of exasperation and then he plucks the apple anyway, admiring its red blush and poison green patches of skin.
“Is there a problem?” He asks and Magnus reaches out for his hand and presses a kiss to the knuckle holding his engagement ring.
“If it is, will you let me handle it?” Magnus asks and his golden eyes have Alec’s mouth dry, like poison lingered too long on his tongue.
“Just this once.” Alec grins, because he can’t let Magnus have all the fun, “we can negotiate by outing?” And Magnus pulls him closer by his hand and bites into the apple Alec is holding.
There’s a shriek and suddenly a form is trying to get between them and Alec stays still, letting Magnus deal with the pests.
After all, Magnus deserves to have fun too.
Magic materializes as boughs and branches twist in ways they shouldn’t to contain the new presence and Magnus scowls at the new orchard caretaker.
The last one knew him by name and by presence… which could actually explain why there was a need for a new seelie in the position of caretaker.
The other one was looking a bit worn after Magnus’ many and extensive visits.
“You can’t be here.” They tell him and it’s clear they don’t know who he is, which is, well, rude. Not knowing who he is normally allowed, but they’re also interrupting a date with Magnus’ fiancé.
And their eyes widen and Magnus can feel the pulse of their frightened heartbeat through the magic that binds them.
“I can go anywhere I want.”
And he turns and casually takes another bite of the apple Alexander is holding.
Juice drips down his chin and before he can magic it away, Alexander leans forwards and kisses him, licking away the juice.
“It’s poison.” The seelie is whispering at them in horror, “everything in this realm is deadly to touch or taste; sometimes even to breathe and look upon.”
There’s silence because Magnus hasn’t explained that little tidbit yet, it was supposed to be a surprise.
And Alexander is looking at him with fever -bright eyes and suddenly Magnus is in thick, strong arms and he’s being twirled.
His coat flares around them and when they settle, he lets Alexander have one moment of dizzy smiles and then Magnus dips him.
They kiss, the nectar of death sweet on their tongues and Alexander drops the apple that he’d managed to hold on to, even when picking Magnus up.
It rolls and Magnus pays it no mind, not when Alexander’s face is flushed and as pleased as the pink of dawn.
“Shall we go on then?” Magnus asks and summons a basket for them each, and then because he is a gentleman, he summons a parasol.
He quite likes the view of Alexander shaded by the silk of abyssal nightmoths. It deepens the mosaic of his eyes into a deep lagoon that Magnus wants to drown in. The lines of his face are darkened, making his features sharper and more wild and Alexander smiles more widely, his teeth sharp and gleaming in the shade.
It’s so enchantingly adorable that Magnus leans over and kisses Alexander's cheek, lips lingering as he sighs happily.
“I was thinking we could try our hand at jam.” Magnus explains as Alexander crouches. His fiancé leans back on his heels, parasol tucked to his thigh to protect him and basket in front of him as he plucks and tastes a currant.
“These would be good for scones.” Alexander tells him, holding several out and Magnus accepts them with a hum of pleasure.
They’re a little sweet, a little bitter but the tang of acid trying to dissolve his esophagus is what truly brings out the sour sharpness.
Magnus sits next to Alexander and then relaxes in contentment when Alec immediately changes positions so Magnus can pillow his head on Alexander's shaded thigh.
“Your thigh is so cold, darling.” Magnus can’t help but compliment, “truly my oasis in the desert, though I don’t recall it normally being this chilling.”
Alexander chuckles and his laugh reverberates through his whole body, sending a generous shiver down Magnus’ spine.
“The wintergreen patch we just passed. I’m not sure what the name is; but it’s trying to turn my blood to ice.”
“Ooh.” Magnus can’t help but gasp out, “lovely, how could you not tell me sooner?” And he settles his face into one of disappointment, “did you at least get me some as well?”
And Alexander reaches into his basket and pulls out a sprig of white mint leaves and Magnus lets himself be fed.
It burns like ice on a salted wound and Magnus moans as the taste of an avalanche floods his mouth.
“We are turning that into tea.” Magnus reaches up to cup Alexander's face, “perhaps we should even take a cutting?”
“I’d like that,” he’s told and then Alexander is quietly plucking the berries in reach, slow so as to give Magnus as much time to rest.
“Do you think we should make some elderberry cordial?” Magnus asks drowsily and he doesn’t hear the answer, drifting off on Alexander's lap.
Alec blinks down at Magnus’ sweetly dozing form.
He’s so still that he looks like a corpse and Alec smiles, knowing that Magnus will enjoy his nap comfortably.
He runs out of berries to pick soon enough and so he leans back on his elbows on the shards of grass and watches Magnus’ sleep.
He’s gorgeous and larger than life, even when he looks lifeless and Alec traces Magnus’ arm, where the muscles strain and kiss at the silk enshrouding them.
There’s noise, the rustle of a predator and Alec sorts the berries by size as it approaches.
Whatever it is, it’s enough for him to notice and so he’s not too surprised when magic suddenly strikes and there is a high pitched but faint scream that sounds like a nightmare demon and then silence.
“Scorpions from the wandering woods. Fairly potent ones, even I might have had a nice dream if I’d been bit.” Magnus yawns from where he’s gently waking up; “you weren’t worried?” Magnus’ voice is hoarse from his slumber and Alec laughs, a light thing like the ash of a corpse.
“Magnus—“ Alec leans down so he can kiss the tip of Magnus' nose. “What could I possibly worry about when your magic is so intoxicatingly lethal?”
“I am rather deadly.” Magnus admits with the little preen he gets when he’s pleased Alec is being so honest.
Magnus calls them compliments which Alec doesn’t get, he’s just stating facts.
