5 Times Alec Tried to Make Magnus Titter, & the 1 Time He Did That and More

6: Alec's Tie-Breaking +1

Alec shifted awkwardly. This was not exactly the way he'd expected to meet Meliorn in person after the whole arrest debacle. Yet here he was, standing in front of the incredulous Seelie trying very hard to fight down the urge to run. But he was Alec Lightwood, a Shadowhunter with a mission and he would be damned if he didn't complete a mission as basic as this.

Not that it was actually basic. Nothing involving Magnus Bane was ever basic.

He licked his lips and deliberately ignored the flush creeping up his neck. Meliorn must have noticed the color because his lips twitched in a secretive smile.

"You understand," Meliorn began, that smile remaining, "what you're asking for is costly."

Alec huffed but nodded.

Meliorn tilted his head in acknowledgement. "You have the agreed compensation then?" he asked, holding out his hand expectantly.

Alec pulled out the small sprig of leaves from a Satinwood tree and placed it gently in the Seelie's hand, mindful of the wispy cocoon spun near the juncture of the green leaves and the stem. "Emerald swallowtail," he said. "As requested."

Meliorn took the gift tenderly, carrying it over to a small vase filled with water to keep the sprig alive and well.

"Such a rare butterfly must have been difficult to acquire," he said, leaving it open for Alec to elaborate. However, he was not surprised when the Shadowhunter remained silent. A wave of his hand, and tiny green lights like fireflies gave the sprig an extra boost of energy. He brushed his fingers against the cocoon's delicate threads with a smile before turning back to Alec.

"I accept the payment," he said. He stepped around the dark haired Shadowhunter and procured a small cedar wood box which he presented to Alec. "I made sure the design matched the rune as you requested. It rests on top of the center stone with the two sapphires on either side. The gold is the finest I could find. Please."

Alec took the small box, lifted the latch, and opened the box. The smell of cedar filled his nostrils as he stared down at the small piece of jewelry nestled in a bed of silk. Without his knowledge, a tender smile graced his face. It was not an expression Meliorn had ever seen on the usually grim Shadowhunter before.

"May I ask," he said, breaking through Alec's distraction, "what does that particular rune mean? I assume the ring is for someone specific."

Meliorn had always found Alec a fascinating study. He was blunt, honest, and straightforward which captured his Seelie interest. But now, he suspected there was more to this whole situation than he'd originally thought. Isabelle's brother was positively glowing.

Alec flashed a shy smile to Meliorn then tucked the box in his jacket pocket and left without answering. While the latter action was hardly unusual, the first action was. Perhaps Isabelle could shed some light on the runed ring's new owner. Curiosity was not always a bad thing, after all.

~~XxX~~

Magnus had had a very long week. He was tired, drained, and generally just bored. Chairman Meow yawn and stretched luxuriously on the back of Magnus's plush navy blue couch. Magnus raised his cocktail glass to his cat in agreement with the sentiment.

The sun was beginning to set painting the sky a faint pink and orange. Storm clouds rolled in from the east reminiscent of the cloud Mufasa spoke through to Simba in the Disney twist on Hamlet with lions. Honestly, Magnus had felt faintly betrayed by the film. It was indeed a wonderfully animated feature and the soundtrack was something of a favorite dirty little secret of the warlock's, but Mufasa's death rang cold in his heart.