Moments

Q&A

Summary: Magnus. You gotta love him.

***

MAGNUS: [jogs to catch up] Hei, Even.

EVEN: [turns, smiling] Magnus! How goes?

MAGNUS: [falling into step beside Even] Bra, man. It's all good. Du?

EVEN: I can't complain. Hey, I didn't know you lived near me.

MAGNUS: Ah, I don't, but I had to pick up my mom's prescription from the pharmacy here. Ours was out of her meds.

EVEN: [frowns] Oh...is she okay? I hope it's nothing too serious.

MAGNUS: Didn't Isak tell you? [grins] My mom's bipolar too.

EVEN: [his step stutters for a moment before he recovers] No, he didn't mention it.

MAGNUS: Yeah, he wouldn't. He's good like that. But, anyway...

EVEN: She's alright, though?

MAGNUS: [wide grin] Oh, yeah. She's great! You should meet her sometime.

EVEN: [smiling] I'd like that.

MAGNUS: Cool, cool.

They walk in silence for a bit, Even trying to process this bit of news. He knew that Isak had confided in his closest friends, but it's still jarring to hear Magnus talk about it so casually.

MAGNUS: Hey, do you mind if I ask you something?

EVEN: [wary] Sure.

MAGNUS: It's...uh, it's personal.

EVEN: [turns to look at Magnus, who seems uncharacteristically unsure of himself] What's up?

MAGNUS: [slows to a stop, and Even stops with him] I know it's a stupid question. Trust me, the guys have already roasted me, but I can't stop thinking about it.

EVEN: About what?

MAGNUS: Um...well...when you and Isak...when you, uh...have sex, how does that work?

EVEN: [takes a beat and then bursts into laughter] Fy faen!

MAGNUS: [rolls his eyes, his face turning a bright shade of red] Not you too, nevermind. [starts walking]

EVEN: [catches up] Wait, wait. I'm sorry, I... [more laughter] I just wasn't expecting that. I'm sorry, it's a...legitimate question. Are you asking about the mechanics? Because there's the Internet, you know.

MAGNUS: No! No, I get...um...how it works. I was just wondering how you decide who...well...which one of you will, uh...

EVEN: [smiling] Ah. Well...it's different for everyone, you know?

MAGNUS: Right, I get that.

EVEN: [thinks] It's just like any other give-and-take situation, really. There's trust. You listen to your partner. Have you and Vilde...?

MAGNUS: Once. [grinning] It was fast but nice.

EVEN: [chuckles] Okay. Did you discuss what was going to happen, or did it just happen?

MAGNUS: It just...happened, I guess.

EVEN: Right. It just happens naturally. It's an exchange, right? A coming together.

MAGNUS: [snorts] Uh, haven't done that yet.

EVEN: [blinks]

MAGNUS: Sorry.

EVEN: [smiles and claps the younger boy on the shoulder] You are one-of-a-kind, Magnus.

MAGNUS: [grins] You know it. But, okay, an exchange. Give-and-take. I get that, but...

EVEN: [drops his hand] Look, Magnus. Some people have preferences, some don't. It depends on the participants, yeah? Honestly, I don't really feel comfortable talking about what Isak and I get up to, but it works for us. The whole point of the thing is pleasure and comfort, no matter who you are. It's about connection, and I'm not only talking about physical connection. Being comfortable with...whatever you do, not feeling pressured into doing something, or pressuring someone to do something they don't want, that's what's important. Being equals in the exchange is important.

MAGNUS: I think I understand. [smiles] Thanks.

EVEN: Did I answer your question?

MAGNUS: [nods slowly] Yes. And no. Good thing there's the Internet, eh?

EVEN: Yep.

MAGNUS: [wiggles his eyebrows] Speaking of which, know any good websites I could use to...further my education?