bragnificent | IC CONTACT ➛ mask or menace.

[ Reggie looks down toward Magnus's lap with a raised eyebrow, as if making sure.

Then he shrugs, speaking again only after he's finished off his own taco. ]

How would you know? Do you ever even watch porn?

[the glance at his lap makes his expression sharper and more wry]

I don't get this celibate monk image of me you've always had. I'm -- [normal, he almost says, but he isn't, and he isn't sure what is normal, anyway] -- not that.

[he thinks about why he invited Reggie over, suddenly; he remembers feeling like he wanted to connect. this was always a place they couldn't. friendship and romance and attraction and, in some ways, how Archie fit into any of that. instead of making a dismissive joke, like he usually does, or change the topic, like he usually does, he answers honestly]

Just because I don't talk about it in the same way most dudes do doesn't mean I'm not interested in romance and -- stuff. [he realises, it's likely Reggie doesn't know, because why would he?] I have a boyfriend?

Edited 2018-08-23 04:37 (UTC)

[ Reggie quirks his eyebrow higher. He doesn't remember exactly when or why the whole "virgin Magnus" thing started anymore either, actually -- it would have been about eight or nine months ago by now -- except that he knows there was a reason for it. Something to do with Archie, but hell if he can think of it now.

Oh well. Times change, Reggie can adapt. ]

So you're not a virgin. Fine, then-- my bad. [ His tone is wry, though not sarcastic. Not apologetic, either. ] Though if you are still saving it for marriage, I guess actually dating someone would technically still count as progress.

I'm not sure dead people get married. And I don't think sex is like...

[he looks at the TV, trying to articulate his thoughts without feeling embarrassed or like he needs to defend himself or clarify his sexual history (or lack thereof). Reggie made so many little stands over so many things; Magnus thinks the room in him for those might have gotten taken up]

Like, I think it's lame to talk about virginity in general. Virginity is nothing and people have different lives. [shrug; he's certainly intimidated, by Ronan's experience in comparison to his own lack, but it's because he wants Ronan to -- to love him, maybe. he wants to be good enough for him, in that way, too] Progress to me isn't getting laid. It's getting close to someone. [he thinks about Ronan again, and their nearness in so many ways, and blushes, despite himself] All that swaggering stuff about chasing ass or whatever makes it sound stupid, when it's really important and cool and amazing, when you can get close to somebody like that.

[he treads on rockier ground:]

Didn't you feel that way about Archie?

[ Reggie says, almost reflexively: ]

What? No.

[ He doesn't really know how to process or respond to everything Magnus just said, so naturally his instinct is to try and let it just go over his head-- like, he "gets" it in that he understands the point being made, but does he get it...? He likes sex. He likes people. He likes being with people, usually through sex but not always.

Getting close to people feels a lot harder. Often he doesn't try, but when he actually does, it feels like he never succeeds.

The virginity talk does legitimately go a bit over his head, though. Reggie decides it's not something he needs to understand. After a pause, he continues: ]

What do you mean?

[for once, Magnus isn't sure what he means; he'd felt like he had needed to say Archie's name, at that moment, a blind intuition. he says instead]

Being close to Archie -- it was one of my favourite feelings. I wouldn't have watched a million of these movies with just anybody. [a pause] I'm enjoying this one, with you.

[ What is happening...,

Reggie isn't sure where to look; warily over at Magnus, or determinedly forward at the TV screen. It's difficult, because the way Magnus operates is so different from the way Reggie does that he often does feel like he's missing something. Maybe even something obvious.

("One of his favorite feelings"...?) ]

Uh. [ Decision made: he looks at Magnus. ] Well, obviously I can't speak to whatever the hell you used to get up to with Archie, but that's not what this is.

Obviously it's different. You're different people. If we get close, it'll be in a different way. I wouldn't mind it.

[Magnus reaches for his beer, meeting Reggie's eyes after he tips it back]

I just wanted to say that. Sorry it's awkward, I guess.

[he doesn't sound sorry, but he does realise that maybe being so frank with Reggie was a little bamboozling, after their months-long history of friction and banter and Archie, somewhere in the middle of it all, with a helpless and a charming smile]

[ Frankness probably shouldn't bamboozle Reggie, who's often rather frank himself, as much as it does, but it's probably due to how sincere Magnus is-- when Reggie's frank, he's honest, but not particularly sincere. Who are these people who just readily talk about all their feelings...?? ]

It's fine, I guess. As long as you remember that even though we were friends, Archie and I are barely alike. You two are more similar. [ "Friends." Reggie squints. ] In some ways, at least.

Edited 2018-08-23 06:42 (UTC)

[it surprises Magnus; he hadn't thought they were particularly alike, outside of some nerdy interests and an unfortunately wide romantic streak paired with a great deal of -- well, romantic ineptitude]

Like how?

[ Ugh, now he has to be specific. Reggie rubs his mouth, figuring out what to say; all the obvious answers to that question would sound like veiled compliments. "Friendly." "Weirdly magnetic." "People just like you." ]

Dunno. [ Good start. ] He was all sensitive about that romantic stuff, too. And closeness or whatever.

[Magnus pauses; asks, rather openly]

Did that -- was it a lot? Like... did it freak you out?

[ Yes. And also yes. Reggie exhales, buying time by popping a chip into his mouth and chewing it somewhat slowly. ]

Well, it is a lot of pressure. I don't usually even like to date [ a beat, ] my friends, but I guess even that can work out sometimes.

What changed your mind?

[genuine curiosity, though his hands mindlessly reach for another pizza slice]

I just... [ Hm. ] At a certain point, "just staying friends" doesn't make any sense if you like, might stop being friends over it. His feelings got hurt cuz he thought I didn't really like him or something.

[ That's a definite oversimplification of the situation -- especially regarding Reggie's own feeling throughout the entire thing -- but also not untrue? ]

So I don't really have any, like, boyfriend advice, if that's what you're after.

[it's not a surprise -- Archie had confided in him, about Reggie not seeming to return his feelings as strongly, and not wanting to become "serious" -- but it's weird to hear it from Reggie when it doesn't sound about Reggie or his feelings. Magnus knows better, now; Reggie wouldn't be out in the woods, watching Archie's old football DVDs (their shared DVDs?) if he hadn't cared for Archie, Magnus thinks]

I'm not after anything. [their situations are different; he and Ronan have only been transparent, about their feelings. they've been serious from the word go] When did you start to really like him?

[ Similarly, Reggie's not terribly surprised that Magnus doesn't seem surprised; he's not dumb enough to think that Archie didn't talk about it to anyone. If he hadn't, he'd probably have just tried to internalized it forever until things came to a head in a different way-- for better or for worse.

Or maybe Reggie only thinks that because it feels like what he'd do. Actually... it is what he's doing, kind of, with Veronica. ]

I liked him way before he even thought of liking me. It was just hard to avoid, I guess. [ He pauses. ] But if you're not after anything, then why the hell are we talking about this?

Why not? You can ask me about porn, but we can't talk about the dude that actually matters to both of us?

[frank, again, a blond eyebrow arching. his posture is relaxed against the couch, but his eyes are attentive]

...I didn't know you liked him first. [...] Why did you wanna avoid it, after all that time? As soon as I knew Ronan liked me... [it was like getting hit over the head with a hammer] I dunno. It would'a killed me to do anything but get serious.

Because it...

[ But Reggie doesn't actually have an easy answer to that question, so he's almost equally relieved by Magnus's news as he is surprised by it. A good way to avoid figuring out how to explain the unexplainable. ]

Wait, you're dating Ronan? Since when?

Um. Since about a month ago, I guess.

[he looks shy, admitting it, but quietly pleased, too]

[ Reggie seems to not know how to process this information properly; both his eyebrows raise, his expression from surprise, to disbelief, to offended, to... confused and begrudging acceptance. ]

First I'm hearing about it. But congrats, I guess. Ronan's pretty cool.

[ Too cool for Magnus, in Reggie's opinion, but #thatsnoneofhisbusiness. ]

[Magnus... doesn't quite understand the three act play he just witnessed in Reggie's expression]

Yeah, he is. Don't tell him I said that.

[he's pretty sure Reggie would rather be caught dead than passing on a compliment, but -- still]

-- Whaaat's with the face?

Sorry, I don't make promises like that.

[ He's not sorry. Though he probably won't actually-- there's no interesting enough payoff in getting involved. Plus, yeah, he likes to make a point of keeping his compliments scarce enough to really mean something whenever he decides to throw one out. And if not scarce, strictly shallow and body-related. ]

Uh, this is just what I look like. Don't tell me you've never noticed.

I noticed you making a face like someone was giving you a wedgie, just now, yeah.

[Magnus looks -- a little uncomfortable. this is the first time he's come out to someone about Ronan and it be... whatever just happened. he supposes Reggie probably thinks he's too weird or dead or virginal to be with Ronan, which while fair, feels -- not great. he turns his attention to his pizza, shredding the crust]

Well yeah, I was surprised. That happens.

[ He says it easily enough, but notes Magnus's expression in turn. Doesn't understand it, really. Did something just happen? This is why Reggie isn't great with these earnest-type conversations; sometimes he's not even intending to be cruel, yet slips up somewhere anyway. ]

You don't have to take it so personally.

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