kiss kiss fall in love!

[pratentious]

Who: The Hungry Hungry Merlinatural Vampire Slaying Hippos
What: Beach anime episode!
When: Days 294 - 296 ( July 12 - 17 )
Where: Salt Side
Rating: PG-13 at most for language, maybe. Only fluff in here.

[ When the visitors disappear in a much cleaner fashion than they came, a mixture of anger. sadness, gratitude and everything in between is left to fill in their place all across the city. It's heavy and stifling; the perfect time to get away for some fresh air.

They leave the morning of Day 294 ( July 12 ), piling everyone onto the train that'll carry them off to Salt Side for a couple days. ( Arthur sticks a little bit closer to Merlin's side; his last train ride is still fresh in his mind. ) The ride there takes half a day undisturbed, and the sun is still lingering in the sky by the time they arrive in the small fishing village. Plenty of time to walk around and shop before storefronts start closing or to catch the sunset on the beach. From here on out, everyone is free to wander as they wish, though don't stray too far, lest the oceans carry you off to the netherworlds.

They'll leave on Day 296 ( July 16 ), after a full day and two nights of relaxation and fun in the sun. The train ride is once again thankfully undisturbed, but the same can't be said for the holy city of Asgard. Something is stirring in the water - but for now, there are only cheerful farewells and blissful ignorance. This trip was theirs and no one else's, a rare and wonderful thing in a troubled land. ]

[ ooc: Who can tell that I write the plot logs? orz This is open mingle to anyone that was invited on the beach trip! You know the drill, open/closed threads with date and location. Lots of stupid fun, guys, let's have it! ]

Comments

[pratentious]

[ He frowns and shifts his arm away from Merlin's a little. ]

That's not what I'm nervous about.

[ Give it a moment to sink in and he'll fold his arms across his chest, finally releasing his sword. Still frowning. ]

Not that I am nervous. Shut up.

[dragonspeak]

[An incredulous look is what Arthur gets in reply. Merlin makes a point of shifting in his seat so that he's facing Arthur. If Arthur was hoping to deflect Merlin's attention from himself, it's just failed miserably. At least he's not twitching so much anymore?]

What's really bothering you? You're being even more of a clotpole than usual.

[pratentious]

[ He feels Merlin's shift, but makes no move to match it at all; simply glances sideways at him when he speaks and scoffs at the barb. ]

One of these days, you will come up with an intelligent insult that isn't made-up.

[ 'Clotpole.' Arthur tightens the fold of his arms, looks askance at Merlin once more - then looks away to the others. ]

I shouldn't've let you off to Svartalfheim on your own.

[ That's ... actually a little more honest than he'd intended. He only meant to say he's worried the train will be attacked again, not - ]

[dragonspeak]

You'd say that about every word you don't know. Which is, you know, a lot of them. Didn't I tell you to pay more attention?

[There's no heat in his insult at all. In fact, the way Merlin beams at Arthur just then would probably seem odd to anyone following the conversation. He can't help it, he's missed their banter, all right?]

What, Svartalfaheim? [Merlin tilts his head a little in confusion.] You didn't know we'd be attacked on the way back. Besides, the Travelers needed you. [He shifts closer, catching Arthur's sleeve in his fingertips and looking as earnest as possible.] Who else would lead them in a battle like that? And we made it out of the train all right in the end.

[pratentious]

What can a farm boy think to know more than a king?

[ Leering. Smarter than u, Merlin, dwi.gif.

But even that small amount of amusement fades away again with Merlin's touch, Arthur dropping his head to look down at his hand with brows furrowed. ]

I suppose the 'in the end' is all that matters.

[ His disdainful tone might make it obvious; Arthur doesn't like the "means to an end" approach that seems prevalent within the city. It's naive and impossible but he just wants everyone safe. He doesn't want to have to wonder when next the people he loves will be in danger. ]

[dragonspeak]

We know a lot more than you think. [He's let go of Arthur's sleeve now, but hasn't moved away.] Life's more simple for us. [Unless your name is Merlin and you have a Great Destiny.] We don't have all that court nonsense to think about like you royals do.

[It doesn't look like Arthur's really convinced, so Merlin tries again.] Hey. Whatever you're thinking about the trip, you're probably being too hard on yourself. You can't be there every time someone runs into trouble, you know. You've just got to trust that we can look after ourselves.

[pratentious]

All that "Court nonsense" necessitates a knowledge of the entire world around us, not just the stretch of road we live on. I'm still not entirely certain how you know how to read.

[ Wonders of the world: Merlin of Ealdor. Or at least, he is to Arthur, which - maybe that should be telling. He knows he can't be there for everyone. He's just trying to fathom the idea that he can't be there for Merlin.

He says nothing of it, though, opting instead to let a moment of silence pass with him inhaling deeply and finally shoving Merlin's arm right back. ]

Fat chance of that rot. You still struggle with which end of the sword to hold. Have you kept that dagger I gave you?

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin squawks indignantly when he's roughly pushed back and makes a show of rubbing his arm like Arthur's actually injured him.]

I do too know how to handle a sword. [Despite his complaining, Merlin opens his pack and tugs the dagger out enough to show Arthur.] Don't worry, I've got it.

okay but seriously I am ending this thread now.

[pratentious]

[ He reaches a hand out to stop Merlin from pulling it out too far, touching his wrist absently again. He pauses, staring at it, and sighs a breathe of relief. ]

Good.

[ It's reassurance enough - both the fact that he has it and the fact that he has it. He kept Arthur's gift at his side, just as he was meant to. They'll be all right. Everything will be all right. ]