[closed post -- a readiness of things]

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad has assumed a regular schedule of checking on Magnus -- the protein bars were dire, and Magnus deserves better food, to say nothing of the other pleasures of indoor life (changes of clothes, Ticket to Ride (the Europe version), updates from Claudius' Mansion gossip that seem like they're be interesting to Magnus and not so personal that Galahad would feel bad sharing them). He comes out to the woods daily now.

It's one of the coolest days they've had at the Mansion so far, and he has a long coat on over his clothes. Today's collection of needful things includes a book full of different waffle recipes, the spicy lamb Magnus conjured from the refrigerator on his first day, two bottles of Mountain Dew Code Red, and an assortment of jeweled barrettes that immediately made him think of Magnus' overlong hair.

Comments

[summerdude]

"Thanks for doing my hair, by the way." Magnus's hand hovers over the side of his head again, once more gently feeling the barrettes.

[onthewillowsthere]

"I liked it," his voice managing to convey some of the warmth he feels. "Do you still want to learn to draw?"

[summerdude]

"Yes," says Magnus, emphatically. "You gonna teach me today?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"A little." He reaches into his messenger bag again and gets out the copy of Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain that he's spent considerable time poring over. "I don't actually know how to teach. This is the book I used."

[summerdude]

"I think you would probably be pretty good at teaching," Magnus says, loyally, but he takes the book and opens it on top of the cookbook that's still spread, open, on his lap.

[onthewillowsthere]

It's a large book that goes through many techniques with exercises to make them practical, as well as advice for developing personal style; as Magnus flips through it, he pulls out a second sketchbook and his box of charcoal pencils.

[summerdude]

Magnus twists when he hears the rustle. "For me?" he asks, touched.

[onthewillowsthere]

"You'll need it," bemused.

[summerdude]

"You're so thoughtful, dude," Magnus says. He thinks back to what he's seen of Galahad's sketches. "What's your favorite thing to draw? The herbs, or your people?"

[onthewillowsthere]

That requires contemplation, and he's quiet for a while, considering. Finally he says, "People, because then I can know what their faces look like."

[summerdude]

Magnus twists, giving Galahad a lightly assessing look. There's a word, it was in one of the books in Randolph's study; he'd been poking into it after a conversation with Otis -- what was it? "Prosopagnosia?" he asks, tentatively. "Or... synesthesia?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"What?" Absolute blankness.

[summerdude]

He's uncertain enough of his own memory of this that he just shrugs. "I don't remember," apologetic and sincere. "Faces are hard for you?"

[onthewillowsthere]

Galahad nods. "I can remember things that I've seen written down or drawn, but not how people look."

[summerdude]

Magnus nods, too. "I thiiiiink maybe one of those words is the word for it," he explains. "But it's been a few years since I read about it. That's cool, though. Art is, like, a -- a hack?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"I don't know that one either," laughing a little.

[summerdude]

He shakes his head, a little rueful but mostly amused. "Like," he says, trying to think of the best way to explain slang he barely even thinks about. "A workaround?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"Oh. Yes. I think so."

[summerdude]

"Cool." Magnus takes the spare sketchbook, and flips through the guide again. "I guess I actually did used to draw a little when I was a kid, but it was like, really nerdy. Nothing like this." He thinks back, again, to the sketches Galahad has shown him. "And not nearly as good as what you do."

[onthewillowsthere]

"I've practiced so much," pleased at the compliment. "And done the exercises. You can be good too."

[summerdude]

"I do like learning," Magnus agrees. "And practicing things." He actually kind of misses training with Jack. He wishes there was a way he could do that that didn't involve fighting or using swords.

[onthewillowsthere]

There's no set amount of time for him to be here, so he's unhurried. He flips the book back to the beginning, so Magnus can read the introduction if he wants to, and begins another sketch of him.

[summerdude]

Magnus does start reading, but he looks up after a few minutes. "Hey," he says, and hesitates. "Do you think you could draw something from a, like, verbal description?"

[onthewillowsthere]

"I can try." Trying is easy with Magnus.

[summerdude]

A quick glance around -- Magnus wants to get (even more) comfortable, but he doesn't want to get in Galahad's way -- and then Magnus moves Galahad's messenger bag right next to Galahad and lies down, using it as a pillow so he can peer at Galahad's sketchbook, albeit at an angle. "If I described Alex, would you be willing to try to draw her?"