Merlin's bracelet // IC Contact (Old)

[dragonspeak]

Arthur, you can't be serious. Oh, come on--ow!

[Merlin's voice, slightly muffled because of the distance at first, is much clearer when he speaks again
after a few seconds, though he sounds anything but cheerful. If anything, he sounds sullen.]

It's Merlin. Sorry I missed you. I'm probably at the hospital or... [here, he pauses,
then continues like the words are being dragged out of him in the most painful manner possible.] Or being useful for my amazingly skilled, patient, and forgiving master instead of
dallying about and picking flowers like the girl's petticoat I usually am.

[A pained moment of silence.]

Leave a message for me here and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

[Click]

Comments

[dragonspeak]

[Instead of buying into the brush off, and letting it go, like usual, Merlin fixes Arthur with a thoughtful, serious gaze.]

Liar. [His lips turn upward.] You definitely weren't in the area.

[Even if Arthur refuses to acknowledge the gesture, Merlin isn't likely to forget any time soon. Getting the comfort he needs from someone who means so much to him, especially when that someone normally shies away from conversations like this, is something he'll keep close to his heart.]

You really are something, Arthur Pendragon. [Merlin shoves his hands into his pockets.] Thanks. I mean it.

[pratentious]

[ Even though he doesn't actually flush, Arthur can feel his face heat at the brazen thanks. For however difficult it is to accept praise in an ordinary situation, he doesn't feel there is anything to give thanks for in this particular instance. He only did what he thinks any decent friend should do - which is not saying much, considering what he knows of friendship. Hrm.

Arthur shrugs and averts his eyes, opening his mouth as though to say something, and then closing it for lack of any words. Too flustered and a bit off-guard, so he looks back at Merlin, purses his lips and nods his head once. It's about as close as he can get to accepting. ]

[dragonspeak]

[His smile only brightens when Arthur wordlessly takes the compliment. If he has to guess, Arthur's usual flippant replies about Merlin being such a girl with his emotions aren't even passing through the prince's mind. That's a gratifying thought all on its own.

Merlin leans back against the wall, eyes never leaving Arthur's.]

I have my break soon. [One hand fiddles with the leather cord around his neck.] Do you want to stick around for lunch?

[It isn't as if they haven't talked since Arthur moved out. They have. But seeing each other over the bracelet isn't the same as seeing each other in person, and Merlin's reluctant to let Arthur leave now that he's here.]

[pratentious]

[ Arthur immediately opens his mouth to decline the invitation. The longer he is away from the house, the more irritable the King becomes and the Prince is loathe to leave him alone in this world built upon magic. He's supposed to fetch Morgana, and they've got to go to the market -

But all those excuses (and that's all they are: excuses) die on his tongue when he sees Merlin leaning against the wall like that. Friendly and open, hopeful in the way Arthur hasn't seen him since before he left their house in Thor. He's there and Arthur can't - so he shuts his mouth and steps back with a soft shake of his head. 

He won't feed him excuses. ]

I can't.

[dragonspeak]

[Though part of him was expecting that, disappointment still fills him. Instead of completely shutting Arthur out in response like he did last time, Merlin simply watches Arthur back away.]

You should visit again. [The red-tooth pendant is a warm, reassuring weight against his chest as Merlin lets go of the leather cord keeping it around his neck.] Sometimes it can get pretty slow in here, especially when they've got a bunch of new Travelers to handle the smaller injuries now.

[With Arthur rushing over just to reassure him and the pendant Arthur had given him as such solid reminders of their friendship, Merlin isn't quite so devastated by the rejection as he could be.]

[pratentious]

[ He watches the pendant fall back in place with a distant smile on his lips, something nostalgic and maybe a bit sad, but still Arthur. He's still Arthur. At least, he's hoping that's what Merlin's calm means. ]

What, and hang about with the sickly and injured? I should dread the day I come to think of the hospital as a pastime.

[ He folds his arms across his chest to seal the tease, then catches sight of another Healer leading someone away from one of the rooms. Merlin belongs here, he thinks, helping people as he said; building them back up as opposed to Arthur's tearing them down. It's a place a warrior should not hope to be. ]

Another time, perhaps.

[dragonspeak]

All right, that's not the best idea I've ever had. [The hospital isn't Merlin's ideal place for spending time with someone either, but he isn't in the mood to be picky about locations. Not when he doesn't know when he'll see Arthur in person again, with the way he's been holing up with Uther.

Merlin adjusts the pendant, following Arthur's gaze. The warmth between them earlier is becoming something uncomfortably awkward, and Merlin can take the hint.]

I should get back to work. [He says it softly.]

[pratentious]

[ He hums noncommittally in response, lingering on the two as they walk away before glancing back to his servant. ]

You will call me, should anything come up?

[ It's not meant to come out as a question, but. Arthur just feels disoriented, out of his element and unsure of his footing for the first time in a long time. Best to just leave while he can before he manages to muck things up even more. ]

[dragonspeak]

[Arthur asking the question as if they haven't been goofing off in each other's bracelet inboxes this whole time makes Merlin put a hand out and catch Arthur's shoulder before he can walk away.]

There doesn't have to be a reason to call each other. I'm not going to let this change because Uther's here.

[pratentious]

[ There's a certain tension at Merlin's brazen mention of the King, but Arthur forces it away. He eyes him for a moment before trying for something close to a smirk. ]

I don't want to hear of any flowers you've caught sight of on the side of the road, Merlin.

[dragonspeak]

[He blows out a breath, knowing what Arthur's doing and disliking it.]

There aren't any flowers left after the flood anyway. [He gives Arthur a look.] You know what I meant.

[pratentious]

All the more reason for you to bunch up your skirts and run to me about them.

[ He smiles easily. ]

I know.

[ Which means next to nothing. He knows. He still won't ring Merlin whenever he wants. ]

[dragonspeak]

Don't be a prat.

[Rolling his eyes half-heartedly as he drops his hand from Arthur's shoulder.]

I'll see you later. [He turns.] And...thanks. Again.

[Merlin forces himself to walk away then, back the way they'd come earlier. Hopefully, focusing on his work should keep his mind off this for a while.]