22nd Spell ~ [Video]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Another one of those weekends...

[ Merlin's playing with the pages in a book - the spellbook Gaius gave him, and by its side is a dragon carved out in wood, made by his father. He's pondered over this broadcast for a while, but it's only a weekend once in a while after all. And Charlie's had her dad show up and...

It's worth a try.

After a moment, he gives a grin. ]

So... If there's anyone I know out there, you better answer this.

Comments

[verybigpheasants]

No rush. Haven't got anywhere better to be.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

That's got to be a first.

[verybigpheasants]

You wound me, Merlin. [ Tsk tsk. ] You're here, I'm here- couldn't pay me to occupy myself otherwise.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Oh.

Okay.

[ Gwaine's... loyalty, or however you're supposed to put it, never ceases to surprise him. ]

Better get to it, then.

[verybigpheasants]

Better at that. Get a crowd together like this, it's wise to do your walking through before the fights break out. [ Always expect a fight: a philosophy by Gwaine. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ He laughs. Oh, Gwaine, he's missed you so much. ]

I better not come there to you having started it.

[verybigpheasants]

[ Clearly giving this one some thought. ]

I'll do my best not to insult anyone's mother, eh?

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Please do.

[verybigpheasants]

You have my word. [ Broad sweepy hammy gesture to go with it.

It may be too late for like one person, but he's pretty sure they didn't hear him anyway, so that's fine. He can try... milling about. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Good.

[ And so he ends the feed. About five minutes later, he's marching quickly towards Gwaine with his arms spread out. ]

Gwaine!

[verybigpheasants]

Merlin! [ Merlin Merlin look it's me

I am the one with the great hair over here hey buddy come this way--!

I mean.

Very suavely raising a hand to wave while Merlin approaches. Fully prepared to go in for the brohug. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ And here the brohug comes. Usually Gwaine's the one who snatches Merlin into it, but it's the other way around this time, and he's making it quite a tight one too. ]

It's really good to see you.

[verybigpheasants]

[ Pleasant surprises all around today. With one or two notable exceptions in actual pleasantness. He thumps Merlin on the back a couple of times while he's at it.

If he's a year to make up for, may as well. ]

And you. Sorry I'm so late.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ When he pulls back, he even pats Gwaine's arms, grabs them and shakes them a bit. Technically it's only a couple of months since he saw Gwaine, but, well... He also left him and Gaius in Camelot while taking Arthur to safety.

So that makes up for the rest of that year, really. No need to say anything else about it. ]

That's all right. Arthur was late too.

[verybigpheasants]

Ah, but you know royalty. Can't expect them to be on time for anything. [ Joking. Honest.

But having a close look at Merlin's face nonetheless. Friends let friends do the manly version of mother henning, obviously. ]

Doing all right?

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ He exhales, almost a snort, and nudges Gwaine's shoulder. ]

Yeah, I'm doing good. Come on, Arthur and I live in this big house that a friend left me over he went home. I've got... two, uhm. People, [ not exactly, since one is a dog, but, ] I want to introduce you to. And it's all right; I've warned them about you.

[ Spoken well of him more than warned, really. ]

[verybigpheasants]

Solid plan. I always forget to warn about how charming I am. [ It's a curse, but it's his to bear. Shoulder-nudging right back. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Yeah, that's exactly it. But they're both mine.

[ He raises a hand, pointing at Gwaine with a meaning raise of an eyebrow. ]

Remember that, and turn it down a bit.

[verybigpheasants]

If I make off into the sunset with anybody of yours, you've my permission to retaliate as you see fit. Sure there are a few things Arthur would love to hear of. [ rly tho Merlin, only had to say you have lady friends you can't pick betwween :I ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

Good. Arthur probably wants nothing to hear of it, though.

[ And off they go, except Merlin slows down a bit when he remembers something. He looks somewhat apologetic. ]

Oh, and. You've probably gathered together that time works different here, or... something. Arthur is... a few years younger than you know him as, and he doesn't know you yet. So... you know.

[verybigpheasants]

[ Not dropping the smile, but his eyes narrow a little at that- no, not strictly pleasant news, much as he's sure Arthur has ever been Arthur.

Gotten rather used to having him as a king. It's a pity.

He's not sure he counts on his second first impression to be grand. ]

Don't make off into the sunset with him either. Fair enough.

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ Sometimes Merlin finds himself incredibly frustrated at the difference in years. But Gwaine is as good as usual at making him laugh. ]

Glad you haven't changed one bit.

[ Not that he would have expected that, but, you know. It's still very nice. ]

[verybigpheasants]

Happy to be of service. [ It's a boost to the confidence. ]

[destinedtobeunpopular]

[ He points down the road towards a big mansion. It's really very impressive. ]

That's the place.

[verybigpheasants]

[ Say what. ]

You're joking.