The wine glass in Jonah’s hand wobbled as he tried to sip at it without pouring it down himself. This would be easier if he didn’t have his head resting in Barnabas’ lap, a fact that Jonathan had reminded him of several times this evening. The rim of the glass rested on his lip and he began to tilt it ever so slowly when a hand shot out and tipped the glass over his face.
Jonah spluttered and coughed as he breathed in the wine. He rolled off Barnabas’ lap and onto the floor of the lounge he and his friends were resting in. Barnabas was complaining about the wine soaking into his trousers, Jonathan was sounding far too pleased with himself for Jonah’s liking while the rest of the room was alternating between pretending to be worried and stifling their chuckles into their own drinks. The little Italian prick was laughing his heart out, still leaning over the side of the couch.
Jonah looked to his glass, empty on the floor and then up to Barnabas’ that still stood on the side table next to the couch.
He was an adult. He was not going to engage in some sort of childish food fight. It would be juvenile and petty and so much fun.
Jonah Magnus is very interested in joining a community formed around Robert Smirke. He isn’t accepting any new members but that’s just a minor inconvenience Jonah can work with.
“Barnabas are you certain it is alright for me just come like that? Without a proper invitation? Have you discussed with at least someone that it won’t be an issue?”
“You worry yourself way too much, Jonah. It is fine, trust me. How many times do I need to say it?”
Jonah sighs as his dear friend pushes his concerns aside yet again. But how could he not be a bit worried? He has been in a London for just a few months and even though he feels like he learnt in that time more about manners and society than in his whole life before he is still somewhat uncertain by his own place within said society. Unlike Barnabas, he doesn’t have years of practice to act so nonchalantly, demanding things as if he was somehow entitled to them.
Things like becoming member of one more or less secret gentlemen gathering. As unofficial the community around promising young architect Robert Smirke tries to be there is many rumors everywhere trying to determine what is the purpose of it and what are they discussing there?
Mordechai Lukas was enigma. Jonah never saw him out in society, but he made certain to attend every one of Smirke’s gatherings, even with them growing in frequency now that one Maxwell Rayner has joined their little club, who has brought with him a wealth of knowledge and a firsthand account of these entities.
Jonah was vaguely aware that the Lukases had an estate in Kent, but he was not certain where Mordechai resided when he was in London.
The man spoke rarely, and never of himself, and his silence greatly intrigued him. He often looked af Jonah like he wanted to talk to him, but he never made a move to. Jonah wanted to know more about this man.
Rating: T (mostly by which I mean nothing overtly fucked up happens in gory detail.) Fandom:The Magnus Archives Characters: Jonah Magnus, Jonathan Fanshawe, Barnabas Bennett (offscreen) Ao3 Link: archiveofourown.org/works/32734393
“Yes, Dorian, you will always be fond of me. I represent to you all the sins you have never had the courage to commit.” -Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray
Jonathan
Fanshawe frequently asks himself how he came to be where he currently
stands, and the answer - all too often - is Jonah Magnus.
Written as part of @jonahmagnusweek for the prompt ‘Manipulation’
