Completely sailing over his head, although the closeness does at least make him a little uncomfortable.
The way Dabi asks that does cause a flicker of pain for César—and it takes him a moment to find his words because his mind explodes with a million different ways to answer that question. "... We see each other for who we are, and we listen to each other when we talk. It's honestly been a bit of a whirlwind up until now, our closeness accelerated to where we would've gotten to eventually, just not so quickly."
He stirs a bit, making a face to show he's still thinking. "... There's no archiac laws here forcing Magne to jump through impossibly expensive and unwanted hoops to prove she's herself like in Japan. The culture follows. Here, her name is her legal name in Pumpkin Hollow. Without question."
César pauses and taps the spatula for a moment, then places it on a spoon rest. He closes his hands. When he opens them, there's a Magnolia blossom, same as the one Magne now wears in her hair. Answers the question of where she got hers from.
"... in a world filled with magic, gender's one of the least confusing things in the world." He's quiet, staring down at the blossom with a soft smile. "So Magne was able to easily get a job, one where her strength is considered an asset. And she was on shift my first night after arriving. Magne went out of her way to welcome me like she did everyone else. She paid me a compliment, and I paid her one right back, then made sure she knew I meant it. And soon we were talking about everything. Things accelerated a few days later due to... external events."
He puts the blossom down on the counter, then goes back to working on reheating the dinner, making sure nothing burns, his voice getting harsher as he continues speaking, although not directed at Dabi. "... but first, as for why it was so easy for me to accept her? Family history. Dad's Argentine; he had to flee for his life because he dared to protest people had the right not to be tortured and murdered by their own government. Landed in Mexico City. My parents met, got married, and had me. Much later on, my baby brother. We both exist because of injustice, making it impossible to ignore. And equally impossible to ignore was the fact I only exist because my father's family had influential connections and wealth. And they used a part of that wealth to help me connect and care for the world rather than seek to control it. Which I easily could have done."
César's eyes flick up to Dabi, and there's tightly controlled rage in them. "... The more I hear from Magne, the more I wish to scream and tear the entire damned system down for all it's done to her and everyone else." He looks back down and forces himself to breathe. "... but for now, with my limited resources here, I'm letting myself revel in the fact Magne has a chance."
A beat, and then a snort, his voice lightening just slightly. "... sorry. That's like. Half the story. I have very strong opinions, and Magne's only made them stronger."
brief mention of Argentine history
The way Dabi asks that does cause a flicker of pain for César—and it takes him a moment to find his words because his mind explodes with a million different ways to answer that question. "... We see each other for who we are, and we listen to each other when we talk. It's honestly been a bit of a whirlwind up until now, our closeness accelerated to where we would've gotten to eventually, just not so quickly."
He stirs a bit, making a face to show he's still thinking. "... There's no archiac laws here forcing Magne to jump through impossibly expensive and unwanted hoops to prove she's herself like in Japan. The culture follows. Here, her name is her legal name in Pumpkin Hollow. Without question."
César pauses and taps the spatula for a moment, then places it on a spoon rest. He closes his hands. When he opens them, there's a Magnolia blossom, same as the one Magne now wears in her hair. Answers the question of where she got hers from.
"... in a world filled with magic, gender's one of the least confusing things in the world." He's quiet, staring down at the blossom with a soft smile. "So Magne was able to easily get a job, one where her strength is considered an asset. And she was on shift my first night after arriving. Magne went out of her way to welcome me like she did everyone else. She paid me a compliment, and I paid her one right back, then made sure she knew I meant it. And soon we were talking about everything. Things accelerated a few days later due to... external events."
He puts the blossom down on the counter, then goes back to working on reheating the dinner, making sure nothing burns, his voice getting harsher as he continues speaking, although not directed at Dabi. "... but first, as for why it was so easy for me to accept her? Family history. Dad's Argentine; he had to flee for his life because he dared to protest people had the right not to be tortured and murdered by their own government. Landed in Mexico City. My parents met, got married, and had me. Much later on, my baby brother. We both exist because of injustice, making it impossible to ignore. And equally impossible to ignore was the fact I only exist because my father's family had influential connections and wealth. And they used a part of that wealth to help me connect and care for the world rather than seek to control it. Which I easily could have done."
César's eyes flick up to Dabi, and there's tightly controlled rage in them. "... The more I hear from Magne, the more I wish to scream and tear the entire damned system down for all it's done to her and everyone else." He looks back down and forces himself to breathe. "... but for now, with my limited resources here, I'm letting myself revel in the fact Magne has a chance."
A beat, and then a snort, his voice lightening just slightly. "... sorry. That's like. Half the story. I have very strong opinions, and Magne's only made them stronger."