7th spell ~ [Accidental video | Early morning]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[The curtains aren't drawn shut, so there's a soft light coming through the window when the broadcast starts. Merlin's lying on the bed with a full outfit on, forehead furrowed in a deep, troubled frown when a black cat jumps onto his back, startling him awake. The cat dives under him when he pushes himself up, eyes glowing yellow when he opens them, and while he fumbles for the phone he knows he just dropped nearby him on the bed the evening before, he blinks around him, at the way there's something twisting - raw power surging through the air - and the sound of distant screams.

...oh. This looks just like his dream, aside from the bed. Brilliant.

Looking down at the cat, he mumbles in a hushed tone:]

Shhh, Shadow.

[He rubs a hand over his face before he scoops the cat up to his chest while he sits up, squints his eyes at the phone. Oh...

Brilliant.]

Good morning, City. Not that I'd call it good. So it's dreams-becoming-real day, or something, then?

[Maybe he, and his voice, is trembling just a bit.]

I think I'll stay inside today.

Comments

video;

[flensing]

[ :c ]

...Are you alright, Merlin?

video;

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[This is Merlin lying with his face half-covered by pillow, and Shadow tucked under his chin.]

Been better.

video;

[flensing]

Yes, I think so.

[But. Well.]

If you are staying in, I could bring you something, for lunch.

[Food fixes everything, right?]

video;

[destinedtobeunpopular]

And step through this?

[He doesn't outright object because it sounds nice. But he doesn't want to make her.]

video;

[flensing]

[She nods.]

And step through that.

[She lived with a foot in another woman's nightmares for years. Horrible as it is, this is a task familiar to her.]

audio:

[charring]

Merlin, I think after this, you and I need to get completely drunk.

audio:

[destinedtobeunpopular]

That actually doesn't sound like a bad idea.

audio:

[charring]

My place around midnight?

audio:

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Sure, alright. I'll be there.

[And you know what? No one has any say about that.]

[anunluckypenny]

[Whatever's going on here? Definitely not good.]

Hey, are you okay? What's going on?

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Nope, definitely not.]

Just a dream. [He hopes.] Doesn't seem to be doing any permanent damage.

[anunluckypenny]

Sure, but dreams aren't just dreams right now and even things that don't do permanent damage can be awful.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

I could definitely do with not having to experience it during daytime too.

[errandry]

... it's not totally real. Just enough to mess with us, I guess.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Just enough to mess with us is real enough to me.

[errandry]

Nah, I meant—least the screaming wasn't from real people.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Probably not. But I can't really tell for sure, can I?

[Rationally, he probably can, but fears tend to make you less than rational. He can't much help the way his throat is clenching whenever he hears it.]

Video

[favoritetraitor]

Master?

Video

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[At this point, Merlin has given up on over and over telling Solomon to just call him Merlin because obviously it's not happening.

...

Actually, at this point it's even more difficult for him to care.]

Hey.

[Have a wry smile.]

I don't suppose you could make me some tea? You know I don't usually like asking you for things, [out of principle,] but I think today requires an exception.

[And Arthur can hardly make tea. Plus, Arthur getting near him now? He'd... rather not have that, honestly. He's not sure he would know how to deal with that.]

Video

[favoritetraitor]

... of course.

[He gives a sigh, clearly not enthusiastic about so small a task. But perhaps he can make some improvement upon the order.]

Shall I bring you some female company as well?

Video

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Wh...at...

Does he seem to be in a state where he would want female company?]

What? No.

voice;

[hexuality]

[Soft, even.]

It likes doing this.

[The City and playing with dreams, she means. It always happens. She is tired of it.]

voice;

[destinedtobeunpopular]

It likes doing a lot of things.

[Sigh.]

It's done something like this before?

voice;

[hexuality]

First time while awake, I think. At least from what I know.

[She pauses.]

Usually people just walk into each other's dreams. Not that one is better than the other.

voice;

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[Oh. Definitely not.]

I'd think it worse, actually. At least this way there's some detachment, even if not much.