30 days of riordanverse pride! 🌈✨

the first

01/06/2021

Magnus awoke to the incessant sound of knocking. He didn't remember falling asleep - he had just been watching Dr Who, for Odin's sake - but apparently, he had dozed off at some point.

He dragged himself off his sofa and to the door. When he unlocked it, it swung open to reveal a grinning Alex Fierro. Well, at first, all he registered was her hair - because he was four inches taller than her and that was what was in his line of vision, and also, he was tired, so shut up - but yes, Alex Fierro.

"It's way too early for this," he grumbled.

"Shut up, Maggie," she laughed, swatting his arm. He narrowed his eyes.

"Why are you so cheerful?"

"Because it's almost pride!" Alex squealed uncharacteristically. "And by the way, it's not early. It's only 11:54. I came so that we could count down to pride together."

She pushed past him and stepped into his room, and Magnus chuckled. "I can't believe I forgot."

"I can't, either." Alex turned to face him. "I made you this, by the way."

He - Alex was a he now, Magus was pretty sure - handed him three ceramic beads on a cord. One was pink, the middle one yellow, and the other blue. The colours, he realised, of the pansexual flag.

"Thanks, Alex," Magnus said sincerely, touched. "I got you something, too."

He walked over to his bookshelf, retrieved the wrapped package, and handed it to him. Alex looked at him questioningly, but he just nodded.

"I know you don't read that much anymore, but it's one of my favourites, and I think you'll like the main characters," he explained. Alex carefully tore the side of the paper open, careful not to damage Magnus's calligraphy of his name. When he saw the cover, his eyes lit up, and he grinned.

"This is the one you were telling me about!" Alex gasped. "The one with gay vampires!"

Magnus laughed. "Yeah, that one."

"Thanks, Beantown." He glanced down at his watch, and started counting down. "Five... Four..."

"Three..." Magnus chimed in.

"Two..."

"One," they said together.

"Happy pride, Maggie." Alex shoved his shoulder a little, just to show he cared.

"Happy pride, Alex," Magnus grinned.