dragonspeak | Merlin's Bracelet // IC Contact (New)

Merlin's Bracelet // IC Contact (New)

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]

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Gwen... Oh! Lady Guinevere? She was supposed to be Arthur's... Oh.

[ She reaches for his hand almost instinctively. ]

Is she here too?

She was here a while ago. She's...back now. Er.

[Even thinking about this is making his head spin. He wonders what people even thought of their lives, if it was anywhere near this complicated in the stories.]

The first time she showed up as her younger self and--she fell in love with Lancelot. Arthur let her go. This time...she returned as Queen of Camelot.

[Merlin bites his lip.] Before that, the ball the gods threw for us? I think there was a curse or something. Arthur kissed both Morgana and I, and now I think he feels guilty because. [He glances at Hermione nervously. This is the part that still makes him uncertain, and he doesn't know how other people will take it.] Because, he might have feelings for both of us.

Oh.

[ She only knows the stories, of course, of Lancelot, Morgana, Merlin and Arthur and their place in her world. There's the muggle view and the Wizarding view and all of it is different, probably words away from what Merlin knew as the truth. But she isn't particularly struck by the fact that he (Arthur, that is) likes two people; she's a little confused on the matter herself.

(What would Ron think of her feelings for Remus, after all?)

Squeezing his hand gently, Hermione shifts closer and tilts her head, wanting to offer comfort as much as support. None of this can be particularly easy on him. ]

Okay, so he likes you both. How, um, how do you feel about that? Does it bother you, that he likes you and Morgana?

[Merlin slips down in his chair a bit, rubbing at the spot between his eyes. He exhales forcefully.]

No--it. It actually makes it. Easier. Morgana and I were already together, you see.

[How did his love life get this complicated? Oh yeah. Pendragons. That's why.]

Arthur must be torn. He was already skittish when Morgana and I tried to talk to him, and now his wife's here. Gwen--she's my friend, too. Before, it might have worked out when she chose Lancelot, but now? I don't want to take him away from her.

[He gestures a little lamely.] The time thing really does make things confusing, doesn't it?

[Can they go back to talking about Hermione now?]

[ Oh, poor Merlin. And she thought her relationship - or, not, as it were - was complicated. ]

So you like Arthur and you're with Morgana, but Arthur likes you both despite being married?

[ She nods, taking a deep breath. ]

Right, so. Um. Have you tried talking to Gwen? I mean -- she might still fancy Lancelot, right? And, um, would she want Arthur to be happy? Or - I mean, does Arthur want to be with her? Because that's what should be decided first. They're married so they need to decide that before we can figure out the three of you, otherwise it'll end up hurting people.

[ Another squeeze of his hand, gentle, as her smile flickers across her face. ]

Gwen should be top of the list, see how she feels. If she doesn't mind then you can go ahead and - I don't know, tackle Arthur and force him to deal with his emotions.

[ Then, a grin. ]

It really does. How about this - if you talk to Gwen I will talk to Remus. Deal?

There's sort of a ...mutual liking between all three of us, I think.

[As embarrassing as it is to say all of this, it's a relief to get it out, too.

A laugh bubbles out of him.]

I'd like to see that. Arthur's not very good about talking about his feelings.

[Merlin squeezes her hand in return, smile a lot lighter than it was when he first started talking.]

Deal.

Then it should be alright, shouldn't it? Just talk to her and you can work things out.

[ Hermione smiles, nodding and sitting up a little straighter, expression softening. ]

We can both be brave and do this, right?

[Hermione seems to have more faith in this working out than he does, but Merlin nods, determined not to let his own doubts cloud her hopes.]

Sure we can.

[One thing he's certain of, though, is that some time has already passed since the train's started moving. He hasn't had time to be nervous about the fight that's to come while he spoke to Hermione.

Merlin nudges her with his shoulder.]

Thanks...for listening.

Anytime, Merlin, really.

[ She smiles, reaching out and taking both his hands, squeezing them both. ]

I'm here for you, anytime, okay? I promise.

It's the same for me.

I know you and Harry have been through a lot already, but...if you need someone to listen, you need only ask.

I appreciate that, I really do. I'll make sure to stop the 'Merlin's Beard' stuff as much as I can, too.

[He laughs; the name thing doesn't seem like such a big deal after everything they've been talking about.]

It's all right. Er, I don't mind it so much. Except maybe the ones about my...private bits.

[ She snorts, covering her mouth. ]

I'll try to wean them off those ones in particular, then.

Oy! [He protests, even as his mouth twitches with humour.]

You wouldn't be laughing if someone were talking about your private bits.

I'm sorry! I don't mean to laugh, really, but - it's just a little funny, don't you think?

[It's actually all fairly ridiculous, but he's going to adopt an offended look anyway.]

Private bits, Hermione.

I know! I know - but, really, it is a sign of respect. Sort of? Our world likes you so much that you're just naturally revered.

[ She smiles, nudging him again. Smile, Merlin. ]

Naturally revered.

[He can't hold the laughter back any longer.]

This is one of the strangest conversations I've ever had.

[ She grins, covering her own laughter with a shake of her head. ]

Welcome to Asgard, home of strange and wonderful conversations?

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Merlin's Bracelet // IC Contact (New)

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