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Entry tags:

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CHARACTERS: Arthur Pendragon & everyone ever.
LOCATION: Arthur's rooms / Oxygen Gardens / kitchens / wherever.
WARNINGS: Will mark subject lines if necessary.
SUMMARY: Arthur doesn't see the point of the communicators anyway.
NOTES: Just a place for December action threads to go! I'll be starting some prearranged stuff, but feel free to leave a generic "welp here is my character" tag or grab me on plurk to plan. Open to literally everything.

[ There is actually nothing under here, the cut is a lie. ]

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You.

[ Arthur gives him a long look that screams of derision. Merlin, a knight? ]

You can't fight, you're terrified of next to everything, you never do what I tell you to, and you look ridiculous in armour.

[ See, Arthur has plenty to occupy his time so long as he has Merlin around to beleaguer (which is perhaps why he's been spending so much time with him when there's very little need for him to dress or arm himself so many times in a day. ]

Give me one good reason why I could possibly want to make you a knight.

[Merlin's mouth goes a little wider with each of Arthur's reasons. There might be a grain of truth to the last two. Okay, the last one, since the one before that is very true. As for the others, Merlin is cautious, not cowardly, and he can fight, just not with a sword. But instead of pointing any of that out (can't, in the case of his magic), Merlin goes for the answer that's the hardest to refute.]

Because no one is more loyal or willing to die for you, not here nor in Camelot.

[There's something eerie about it, how Merlin can speak of his own death without hesitation, and still look so much like a boy.]

[ Arthur cycles rapidly through confusion, as though he isn't sure he's heard Merlin properly, to disbelief when he realizes from the intent and open expression that he has, to grimacing as he considers it. Of course he's always known that the men and women of his kingdom would want to die for him — and he's never liked it. And then he's sort of resigned, but soft around the eyes, because it's not something he can take for granted. ]

No. You'd still be a terrible knight.

[ But he says it with a lot more affection than he had before. ]

Far too willing to get yourself killed. I need men who last.

[ He knocks at Merlin's shoulder, playful because he's actually a bit upset by Merlin's casual disregard for him own life, and he wants to cover, pretend the enigma of it doesn't draw him in. ]

We'll have to come up with another ceremony. I don't suppose you'd consider getting married?

Married?

[Merlin's eyes are the size of saucers as he repeats the word, as dubious about that as Arthur was about his knighthood. He blushes furiously, crimson across his cheekbones and a paler shade of it spreading to the tips of his ears and down his neck.]

Uhm. No, I don't think - why? Has someone mentioned it? Expressed an interest or something I don't know about?

[A pause.]

You're not asking me, are you? Because I doubt your father would approve, and think of how disappointing the wedding night would be. Hardly any surprises for me there. Well - there might be some surprises, but not exactly any that I want.

Edited 2012-12-19 01:19 (UTC)

[ The first response is about the one he intended. The second... ]

Not to me, you absolute imbecile.

[ Arthur stares at Merlin as though he's spontaneously grown another head, and if his own ears are going a bit red, it's because Merlin is talking about their hypothetical wedding night, and Arthur just. He doesn't even have the words. If he was feeling at all charitable a moment ago, that's about done with. ]

All right.

[Merlin sighs in relief. That's good to know, because Prince or not, Arthur knows nothing about proper courtship. And quite frankly, Merlin can't be expected to wait forever...]

[The silence stretches on and Merlin suddenly realizes that Arthur isn't yelling. But he is staring at him like he thinks Merlin has some sort of mental affliction.]

So just for the sake of curiosity, who did you have in mind?

I didn't have anyone in mind, Merlin.

[ Because he wasn't being serious. And now he's a little offended at how glad Merlin is that he doesn't have to marry Arthur. Everyone should want to marry Arthur. And he and Merlin are practically married already, minus the being nice to each other bits. ]

[ Still, his gaze turns forebodingly speculative. ]

Who do you have in mind? [ deadpan: ] Apart from me, obviously.

No one at all.

[But Merlin says it a little too sharply, looks away a little too quickly. And that blush is threatening to return, leaving a hint of heat felt in his face.]

[He can't talk to Arthur about a crush, especially not one that can go no further than that. And Merlin's just too used to keeping himself to himself. But he thinks about how he wishes that weren't so, and how he's encouraged Arthur to talk about his own feelings in the past. And now their roles are reversed. Merlin shrugs his shoulder, still stroking a hand down the horse's neck.]

The lady Lucrezia would make a beautiful bride, don't you think? Not for me, but for someone.

Lucrezia?

[ Arthur's eyebrows raise high. He'd had the thought that she was much like Morgana — perhaps Merlin had something of a type. But as sweet as the girl was, he's not entirely sure Merlin's good enough for her. Still, his gaze goes knowing. ]

Yes, perhaps. Do you think I should be arranging her ceremony instead?

What right do you have to arrange her marriage?

[Which would be a 'no'. Merlin looks straight at Arthur again, frowning at that piercing, slightly amused gaze.]

Though I could say the same for me. I can handle my own affairs of the heart.

[If he really had any.]

You were the one who suggested I needed something to do.

[ Which is no particular right at all, especially since she's no Camelot citizen, but he thinks Lucrezia would likely let him help anyway. ]

But of course, Merlin, I'm sure if you put on your best dress you'll be quite capable of finding somebody on your own.

Only because I wanted you to be happy, not so you could ruin my life.

[Although under the right circumstances, that would probably do it.]

And for the last time, I don't wear dresses and I don't fancy the idea of it either.

Of course. And I received my horse because I enjoy looking at other people riding it.

[ It's obvious he doesn't believe Merlin in the slightest. ]

You really didn't need it. You could just wear the tack yourself, you horse's arse.

[There's not a lot of heat in his words though. Merlin's distracted by something, but finally turns to face him.]

What if I told you that that dress belonged to a girl.

[Well that should go without saying, but Arthur clearly needs more convincing.]

A girl who was...special to me.

[A little shyness creeps back into Merlin's demeanor. He shouldn't even be telling Arthur that much, not when one secret could lead to the next. But it feels good to get something off his chest, to share something personal with Arthur. Like friends.]

And that's why I kept it.

[ Arthur's eyes immediately narrow. Because for all his teasing, he's not actually an idiot. ]

I'd swear I've seen Morgana wearing that dress.

[ He keeps his tone mild, raising an eyebrow. Danger, danger, Will Robinson. ]

[Welp.

Merlin licks his lips nervously and tries to think his way around this one. Because Arthur's not wrong, it is Morgana's dress. But Merlin stole it. For a cursed Druid girl. And wow, he can't tell him any of that.]

[He looks back up at Arthur, grinning and aiming a playful punch for Arthur's shoulder. He likes that sort of thing, right? It means they're bros or whatever terms people use for camaraderie.]

Yeah. I think that ship's sailed, don't you?

[ It's pleasantly familiar, to catch Merlin's hand before it can even make friendly contact, and twist it up behind his back. The horse whickers nervously, so Arthur keeps his voice low and even and dangerous, a soft drawl breathed over Merlin's ear. ]

But of course it couldn't possibly be Morgana's dress, because you may be an idiot, but you're surely well aware that if you do much as laid a hand on her, I'd introduce a new law saying the royal manservant must be a eunuch. Do I make myself clear?

[Not so pleasant for Arthur, but definitely familiar. Merlin hisses, and for the first time he considers saying that it actually is his dress after all, that he wears it.]

Arthur, I swear to you that I don't have impure intentions with Morgana. I don't have an intentions at all!

[ Arthur lets him go, not entirely satisfied, but willing to believe Merlin's caught his drift. ]

Good. See to it that it stays that way.

[ Though Morgana's strangeness is something that concerns him. He's often suspected she might take up with Merlin just to spite him, but her anger here also makes her unpredictable, as though perhaps she's more likely to try and kill his manservant than seduce him. ]

[ Arthur shakes his head, putting it firmly from his mind, and returns to caring for the horse and thinking on Merlin's words. ]

So, another girl. Who isn't Morgana. Have I met her?

[Merlin rubs his arm, like it hurts more than it actually does. That question sends panic down his spine though, making him stand straight.]

No.

[It's not entirely a lie, but Merlin's learned his lesson about telling the truth.]

She's...it didn't work out.

[Merlin's voice goes softer as he strokes a soothing hand down the horse's side.]

I don't think that sort of thing is in the cards for me.

Come off it, I don't work you that hard.

[ Apparently now that they've cleared up the little misunderstanding about Morgana, they can have the slightly friendly conversation Merlin had wanted in the first place. ]

You're still young. You'll find someone to dedicate yourself to. I'm sure there's some girl out there who likes men who are...

[ He gestures at Merlin loosely, as if to indicate all of his Merlin-ness, from awkwardness to insolence to femininity to stunning bone structure. ]

[Merlin's eyebrows raise as he's gestured at. And really, maybe it's for the best that Arthur just trails off. That way Merlin can pretend that it was something nice.]

...Thanks.

[He blinks at him before shaking his head.]

Some men are just destined to find love and some aren't. That's all.

Destiny.

[ It would be easy to imagine that the snort he makes had actually come from his horse. ]

Don't be a girl, Merlin. Anyway, you can't be a celibate for the rest of your life, surely.

Why not? What's wrong with it?

[It's a serious question. Merlin's stopped everything to just look at him.]

[ Arthur blinks. ]

Well— you can't seriously— you'd go mad, surely.

[ How did the conversation even get here. For all that they pal around and talk about girls sometimes, Arthur isn't sure he wants to talk sex with Merlin. ]

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servant - 2012-12-28 03:29 (UTC) - Expand

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king - 2012-12-28 04:17 (UTC) - Expand

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