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It was their tenth date and Magnus was beginning to gather that Alec didn’t seem to like any of the alcoholic beverages he tried.
Besides their first date at Hunter’s Moon, none of their other dates had included drinks. Thinking back, Magnus recalled Alec not caring for the previous beverages he ordered either.
“You don’t like to drink much, do you?” Magnus asked, his tone lighthearted and slightly amused after Alec grimaced not so subtly at the taste of the Manhattan cocktail.
It was the second drink he had tried so far since arriving, managing half of a beer. Magnus was beginning to think they needed to start trying different flavors.
Alec shrugged, settling back on the couch still holding the glass. “Not really, no. I only ever went to bars or nightclubs to keep an eye on Izzy and Jace so I wouldn’t bother drinking.”
Magnus hummed in consideration, thinking through the options. He could have Alec sample a number of drinks to determine what kind he liked… then again, did Alec even want to drink?
It was a warm summer night on the balcony, a gentle breeze with the sun slowly setting across the buildings in the distance. It caused the sky to be an in array of yellows and oranges.
Alec’s head was leaning back, the golden light streaming across his face. His black hair was messier than normal and still damp, Shadowhunter having come over after a rare day mission involving a shapeshifter demon. He’d been covered in ichor so Magnus had offered up the use of his bathroom, Alec now wearing one of Magnus’s oversized t shirts and a pair of sweatpants.
Alec was more relaxed now than Magnus had ever seen him, the usual stress lines caused by his siblings and the Institute having faded into a soft smile.
“Darling, I am more than happy to create you some other drinks,” Magnus said, waving a hand toward his drink cart that was currently rolled out on the balcony with them. “But if you would prefer coffee, tea, or something else I can easily do that too.”
Magnus didn’t want Alec to feel pressured to drink simply because he did. But, he was also more than happy to help Alec discover his favorite flavors.
Alec smiled, his features still relaxed and at ease in Magnus’s presence. “I’m happy to try the drinks, I just haven’t liked any of the ones I’ve tried yet.”
“Well then, let’s have you sample a variety and we’ll find your right match,” Magnus declared, standing up and walking over to the drink cart. He glanced back over at Alec. “But please be honest with me and if you decide to switch out for coffee later than that’s perfectly fine.”
“Noted. Thank you,” he answered.
Magnus scanned his drink cart, trying to think of the right drink to mix. He decided to start with a dry martini, handing it to Alec a moment later.
“This is a dry martini. It’s a bit strong, so it may not be to your liking, but it depends if you like gin,” Magnus explained.
Alec took a small sip, unable to hide the grimace on his face as he set it on the table. “Yeah, maybe not that one.”
Magnus snapped his fingers, the glass disappearing, as he moved back to the drink cart.
“Try this,” Magnus said, handing him a tall glass with a cherry sticking out.
“What’s it called?” Alec asked, taking a sip.
Magnus grinned. “Sex on the beach.”
Alec coughed, his face turning red before looking up at Magnus in disbelief. “You’re joking.”
Magnus chuckled as he shook his head. “Not at all. People come up with interesting names for drinks. So, what do you think?”
Alec took another sip in consideration. “Not too bad, but there’s a taste in it I don’t love. I’m not overly fond of pineapple either .
They went through a few more drink samples. Alec didn’t like any of the straight up liquor - not the rum, gin, or whiskey. He was partial to red wine, liked champagne to some degree, but it was when Magnus had him sample the sweet cocktails that Alec found what he really liked.
“This is a tequila sunrise,” Magnus said, handing him the glass.
Alec took a sip and when he didn’t immediately grimace, Magnus took it as a win.
“I like it. It’s sweet. I think I like the sweet, fruity ones best,” Alec admitted, seeming a bit embarrassed at the confession.
Magnus wasn’t surprised. He saw Alec drink black coffee at the Institute often, and that’s what he used to have to Magnus’s too. It wasn’t until Magnus started introducing him to lattes that Alec started to show his sweet tooth.
“I’m partial to that one too,” Magnus said, placing a cosmopolitan cocktail on the table. “This is a cosmo. It’s a little more tangy, but I think you might like it.”
Alec reluctantly set the tequila sunrise down, sampling the cosmo next. He took another sip in consideration. “Hm, I think I like it.”
“But not as much as the other?” Magnus asked, making mental notes of what flavors Alec geared toward.
He nodded.
They went through a few more samples. Alec loved the strawberry daiquiri, was so-so on the aperol spritz, didn’t love the pina colada which wasn’t surprising due to his previous comment about pineapple.
Magnus noted that Alec seemed to like the drinks with tequila the best, and that he didn’t like many drinks with gin or vodka. He definitely preferred the drinks with strong flavors of fruit - strawberry, orange, passion fruit, cherry.
“You are so good at mixing drinks,” Alec declared, the words a bit slurred as he loosely held one of the margaritas Magnus made him.
Magnus smiled brightly, having drank even more than Alec and was definitely tipsy. “I’ll make drinks for you anytime, darling.”
Alec’s eyes lit up at the term of endearment, shifting on the couch to sit closer to Magnus, curling into his side.
“I like the strawberry ones best,” Alec declared, his tone decisive even with his movements stilted.
Magnus hummed, pleased. He leaned closer to Alec too, pressing a kiss to his forehead.
“You missed,” Alec said with a frown, tilting his face toward Magnus.
“My apologies,” Magnus answered with a smile.
Magnus leaned down to press a lingering kiss to Alec’s lips.