[ There are times when words aren't necessary though, and it definitely feels like that when she pulls away to break the kiss and he simply smiles at her. There's literally no motion that will suggest he's leaving any time soon. Even before, when they'd had that stupid misunderstanding he hadn't planned on leaving.
While she can hear their hearts, he imagines hearing her laugh like this probably gives a similar feeling. It's lighter, makes his expression soften because it really does make her shine when she's like this.
He licks the edge of his lower lip and somehow can't seem to stop himself when he lets out a soft breathy laugh too, followed by: ] You're such an apple.
Wha— [ she almost chokes, and she turns to the side as she coughs. jesus. she didn't think she sounded ridiculous when she said it, but it sure sounds so foolish when he says it.
but it's a good thing that she's more of a silly person than a serious one. ] What?
[ He can't help it, he really does laugh this time, feeling all the tension and anxiety from before leave his body. It is stupid, isn't it? But he honestly can't think straight. That could be problematic. ]
I thought it was supposed to be a compliment? [ He makes a small noise in the back of his throat once the laugh dies down, peers at her as his teeth run over his lower lip. He finishes it with: ] Or maybe a strawberry.
Yeah, [ heh... that sounds like a fun idea. the smile she makes is so bright, and the same can be said with the way she laughs. she can really be like a child sometimes. ] next time.
[ He pauses at the question, watching the way her face seems to light up at the moment. It gives him time to think too. ]
At home it would probably have been strawberries or raspberries, but we only have them in the summer. [ no imports in his time... ] Here? I don't know, I've tried quite a few new things.
[ Why are you asking him these difficult questions while he's light headed? He pauses to shift himself a bit, sliding his arm until he can use his hand to prop his head up. ]
All of it is much better than I'm used to. There's more variety... but I'd say I don't really have a favourite. [ His eyes flicker up. ] The person I'm with tends to change how it tastes, too.
[ she doesn't sound all that happy with his answer. she doesn't look that pleased at all, either.
she doesn't move as much as he does, though she does shift here and there. there might be a cushion in between them and the floor, but it's still not as comfortable as a bed, for example. ]
[ Of course it isn't as comfortable as a bed but wow, that's too fast.
He pauses when she replies like that, and okay he gets it but it's a bit difficult to pin point one thing that he likes. Things like pizza, pasta, the bentos she keeps making, the different things at the cafe etc... There's just so much choice.
Well. Okay, maybe he can think of something. ] Spaghetti, maybe? Or other types of.. pasta? It's pasta right?
she just blinks at the response at first. okay, so, pasta seems simple enough? somehow, she wanted to hear something more challenging, but it's understandable that he can't pick one right away especially when he's still experiencing culture shock. ]
It is pasta, you're right. Spaghetti is easy enough. . . [ (unsure)
she doesn't know if she can make spaghetti any more special than it already is. ]
I'll make some for you some time, when I have some extra money.
Well really if she wanted to have a challenge she'd be better off asking what he's seen but hasn't properly tasted because then she'd probably have the opportunity to try and make a delicious roast lamb gourmet meal tbh...
Instead, she gets the options he can't fail at cooking either. ]
I can wait. Something like this is nice anyway. [ On the rooftop looking at stars with little miss sunshine herself... u//u ]
[ ok but she'd burn the whole apartment down if she ever tries something like that... and she'd end up pulling an arthur and buy the meal from a restaurant instead.
... sweats. ]
Even if I was being weird earlier?
[ this is her craving for validation... help.............. ]
[ It's a good job he said spaghetti then isn't it?!?!?! Though if it came to that it would be him running to a restaurant for it. smh. ]
Even if you were being weird earlier. It's fine. Everything is alright now, isn't it?
[ Well he hopefully... helps........ ]
I want you to remember something for me. [ He shifts onto his back, leaning on his elbows as his head tilts to look at her. It's just because his arm is going a little dead. ] I'll fight for you. If you ever feel like that again, if anything comes up... I'm not going to let go. I told you that already, didn't I?
[ He lets himself drop back onto the blanket (wary of his head, of course) when she shifts and offers that meek reply. Though it's the way the path goes that has him looking up at the sky. ]
Are you worried? [ It's hard to get comfortable when it's a topic like this, and really he had pushed too far, yet at the same time... he doesn't really regret it (yet) ]
Of course, I am. [ she's really trying not to be loud right now, especially when they're next to each other. she doesn't have to be loud. her intonation serves its purpose of showing how mad she is. not at him, but at the flamines. ]
They've been harming people all this time, and now one of them even said that to you. [ she folds her arms and buries her face in between. her voice is muffled now as she speaks. ] I know you can probably handle yourself, and so can other people like Rei and Yu, but I don't want my friends getting in danger.
[ He doesn't flinch, but he definitely winces when she replies like that. It's clearly visible on his face, thankfully she's burying her face against her arms. ]
I wouldn't say I'm worried, though maybe I should be. Maybe I will be. But I've been trying to learn more at a faster rate. When I arrived her, I found that Gaius'--my--book was here.
The problem is that we don't know what they can do.
[ There are other things he could tell her too. That Rei and Yu are two people he can contact without using his hands, that he tried to see if there was information, a translation anywhere of his other name "Emrys" and all he could find was that there was something Welsh that meant immortal.
He doesn't know what that means, but... that name is the one that gives him even more recognition in some places.
He can't risk using it, not when there are suspicions that CERES is watching their every move. ]
[ she takes a peek to look up at him curiously. this guy is crazy -- not even thinking about it so much. or maybe it's because he might be able to put up a fight against the flamines that he's not worried. even rei told her to not be so worried.
the people here are strong. athena may not be one of them, but she should believe in the people around her.
even though that's a bit difficult to do at a time like this. ]
Don't get hurt.
[ the last thing she needs is more of her friends dying in this place. let's seriously not have that. ]
[ It's a number of things, really. But also because he somehow feels like he has more room to flex his abilities here. Hiding away in his room to try and learn spells at home doesn't compare to here when he can go to the gardens and practice. That, and there are people here who make him feel stronger too.
She does that. She might not really realise it, or believe it completely yet, but that need to protect her will definitely come in handy one day. ]
I won't. [ haha....ha...
Though right after he twists around again, just so he can reach for her hand, idly brushing his fingers over the back of it--at least of what he can reach with her head using it as a pillow on and off. ] And even if I get a little hurt, I'll be okay. Alright?
[ she shifts to sit up, and a hand makes way for his wrist only to slap him in the cheek very lightly. it seriously doesn't hurt. though-- ]
I might have to break my promise if that ever happens. [ hitting him, she means. no one's ever told her to tsun responsibly... so...
it's not reassuring in the slightest, even though she should be believing in his words. despite that, she still smiles. it's the hardest times when a lawyer has to force their biggest smiles, after all.
she still will punch him if he ever dies, though. ]
[ He blinks at her for the slight slap, even going so far to puff up air in that cheek before he moves the arm that is being held at the wrist so he can hold hers in return and pull her forward into himself. ]
[ athena fixed her hair first, putting all of it on one side before she scoots closer to him. she's not letting herself get dragged, but eventually, she lays back down until she's near him to the point where she can hear the sound of his heart without the use of her ability.
that response, though... nobody's ever prepared for the worst. but she won't argue. she'll just be very, very upset if something does happen. hopefully, the flamines are all talk. hopefully, ceres will do something. hopefully.
she rests her head on his chest and nuzzles against it to get comfortable. this feels like home. and it's why she says nothing and instead just closes her eyes. it's silence again that lingers, and while merlin isn't used to it, athena loves it. ]
[ Thankfully he didn't do it too hard, but merely as an indicator that this topic was... difficult. Of course it was. It also meant that he'd rather not have her too far away from him--it's such a relief (and a genuinely excellent surprise) when she not only comes back but lays down to rest on him.
His heart probably sounds like it's doing somersaults at first as he looks down at the top of her head, his arm curling around her shoulders to cradle her in. Finally it settles into a soft trill like hummingbirds.
It's so warm. It feels warm, inside and out and that's enough to draw a tiny smile onto his face as he looks up at the sky. ]
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While she can hear their hearts, he imagines hearing her laugh like this probably gives a similar feeling. It's lighter, makes his expression soften because it really does make her shine when she's like this.
He licks the edge of his lower lip and somehow can't seem to stop himself when he lets out a soft breathy laugh too, followed by: ] You're such an apple.
[ ???? yeah. ok. ]
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but it's a good thing that she's more of a silly person than a serious one. ] What?
I'm more of an orange, than anything.
[ and oranges, to her, are the best fruit. ]
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I thought it was supposed to be a compliment? [ He makes a small noise in the back of his throat once the laugh dies down, peers at her as his teeth run over his lower lip. He finishes it with: ] Or maybe a strawberry.
[ delicious :9 ]
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Strawberries are okay, I guess. They're really good with cream.
[ she means the fruits and not her FDSAFSGSFH ]
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Maybe next time... we can have some of those.
[ The food................... not her. sure nikki. ]
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What's your favourite fruit, anyway?
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At home it would probably have been strawberries or raspberries, but we only have them in the summer. [ no imports in his time... ] Here? I don't know, I've tried quite a few new things.
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What about food?
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All of it is much better than I'm used to. There's more variety... but I'd say I don't really have a favourite. [ His eyes flicker up. ] The person I'm with tends to change how it tastes, too.
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she doesn't move as much as he does, though she does shift here and there. there might be a cushion in between them and the floor, but it's still not as comfortable as a bed, for example. ]
Well, I can't learn to cook everything.
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He pauses when she replies like that, and okay he gets it but it's a bit difficult to pin point one thing that he likes. Things like pizza, pasta, the bentos she keeps making, the different things at the cafe etc... There's just so much choice.
Well. Okay, maybe he can think of something. ] Spaghetti, maybe? Or other types of.. pasta? It's pasta right?
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she just blinks at the response at first. okay, so, pasta seems simple enough? somehow, she wanted to hear something more challenging, but it's understandable that he can't pick one right away especially when he's still experiencing culture shock. ]
It is pasta, you're right. Spaghetti is easy enough. . . [ (unsure)
she doesn't know if she can make spaghetti any more special than it already is. ]
I'll make some for you some time, when I have some extra money.
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Well really if she wanted to have a challenge she'd be better off asking what he's seen but hasn't properly tasted because then she'd probably have the opportunity to try and make a delicious roast lamb gourmet meal tbh...
Instead, she gets the options he can't fail at cooking either. ]
I can wait. Something like this is nice anyway. [ On the rooftop looking at stars with little miss sunshine herself... u//u ]
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... sweats. ]
Even if I was being weird earlier?
[ this is her craving for validation... help.............. ]
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Even if you were being weird earlier. It's fine. Everything is alright now, isn't it?
[ Well he hopefully... helps........ ]
I want you to remember something for me. [ He shifts onto his back, leaning on his elbows as his head tilts to look at her. It's just because his arm is going a little dead. ] I'll fight for you. If you ever feel like that again, if anything comes up... I'm not going to let go. I told you that already, didn't I?
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she twists her body a bit to face him properly, though it's more like she's flopping on her belly now, head canted his way.
you're so gross, though, merlin. ]
I'll remember. [ this is the meekest she'll ever get, too.
her tone becomes a bit more serious when she brings this up, though-- ] Do you remember what that Flamine said? I still think about it... Do you?
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Are you worried? [ It's hard to get comfortable when it's a topic like this, and really he had pushed too far, yet at the same time... he doesn't really regret it (yet) ]
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They've been harming people all this time, and now one of them even said that to you. [ she folds her arms and buries her face in between. her voice is muffled now as she speaks. ] I know you can probably handle yourself, and so can other people like Rei and Yu, but I don't want my friends getting in danger.
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I wouldn't say I'm worried, though maybe I should be. Maybe I will be. But I've been trying to learn more at a faster rate. When I arrived her, I found that Gaius'--my--book was here.
The problem is that we don't know what they can do.
[ There are other things he could tell her too. That Rei and Yu are two people he can contact without using his hands, that he tried to see if there was information, a translation anywhere of his other name "Emrys" and all he could find was that there was something Welsh that meant immortal.
He doesn't know what that means, but... that name is the one that gives him even more recognition in some places.
He can't risk using it, not when there are suspicions that CERES is watching their every move. ]
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the people here are strong. athena may not be one of them, but she should believe in the people around her.
even though that's a bit difficult to do at a time like this. ]
Don't get hurt.
[ the last thing she needs is more of her friends dying in this place. let's seriously not have that. ]
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She does that. She might not really realise it, or believe it completely yet, but that need to protect her will definitely come in handy one day. ]
I won't. [ haha....ha...
Though right after he twists around again, just so he can reach for her hand, idly brushing his fingers over the back of it--at least of what he can reach with her head using it as a pillow on and off. ] And even if I get a little hurt, I'll be okay. Alright?
[ Good luck with that tbh. ]
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I might have to break my promise if that ever happens. [ hitting him, she means. no one's ever told her to tsun responsibly... so...
it's not reassuring in the slightest, even though she should be believing in his words. despite that, she still smiles. it's the hardest times when a lawyer has to force their biggest smiles, after all.
she still will punch him if he ever dies, though. ]
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I'm prepared for the worst.
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that response, though... nobody's ever prepared for the worst. but she won't argue. she'll just be very, very upset if something does happen. hopefully, the flamines are all talk. hopefully, ceres will do something. hopefully.
she rests her head on his chest and nuzzles against it to get comfortable. this feels like home. and it's why she says nothing and instead just closes her eyes. it's silence again that lingers, and while merlin isn't used to it, athena loves it. ]
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His heart probably sounds like it's doing somersaults at first as he looks down at the top of her head, his arm curling around her shoulders to cradle her in. Finally it settles into a soft trill like hummingbirds.
It's so warm. It feels warm, inside and out and that's enough to draw a tiny smile onto his face as he looks up at the sky. ]
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