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[sortileges]

"--a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can.

Is that it? How do I tur--"

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[sortileges]

I... didn't pay for it, so. [ ty Vietnam..... again. His mouth twitches slightly, trying to not smile because she probably doesn't expect this. ] I wouldn't mind if you did.

[ Just be prepared for Vietnam-nee being a creeper, honestly. Though it would mean a lot that it's with things like those that she now associates it with.

Finally, his hand reaches for hers again, only this time he pulls it up, his free hand peeling the sleeve down slightly to kiss at her wrist. ]

...The sleeves are a bit long on you.

[ it's so cute help him ]

[psycholawgy]

What? [ she blinks, batting her eyelashes as her expression turns curious. ] Who did, then?

[ she can't keep this, if that's the case. it must have been a present or something. merlin has to have it in the end. ]

And that's because I'm not a giant like you. [ why is she so tiny... though once he's fixed the sleeve, she opens her hand to it's flat against one of his palms. it takes a bit of effort to get him to open his palm and raise it to chest level, but she manages. ] See what I mean? Mine's like a baby's compared to your hand.

[sortileges]

Vietnam... [ He picks at the sleeve lightly. ] ...took me shopping. [ His voice goes a little dry at the end, and he winces. Athena, does that tell you anything about the day he had... ]

I only had three outfits, and the one I was wearing in that darker place ended up ruined and I obviously didn't have any credits so... [ A shrug.

He goes quiet when she takes their hands to measure against each other, eyes flickering from that to her face. ]

...Well you are a girl. [ I'm so sorry ]

[psycholawgy]

[ that doesn't tell her anything at all... ]

Vietnam, huh? I didn't know she was into fashion. [ her fingers fold into his and she gives his hand a soft squeeze. ] She's amazing. I owe a lot to her for saving my life.

[ it was the worst christmas ever, too. she'd never ever forget almost dying after getting hit by a truck like that. thanks, blizzard! ]

Some girls have large hands, though. I'm not one of them. But at least-- [ ah... this is so shameless of her to say. colour fills her cheeks before she can even add: ] my hand fits so well in yours.

[sortileges]

[ It tells her it was a day of suffering. Whether a photography session actually happened or not though, it doesn't come up. ]

I'd definitely say she is after she dragged me around all day. [ His eyes flutter when their hands entwine properly. He blinks them open when she says the rest though, pausing. ] What did she do?

[ He still doesn't know much about her, even if they worked together in the dark pits of hell and they ran from a giant caterpillar together and now... this.

His own skin gets a faint tinge of pink to it when he adds: ] It does.

[psycholawgy]

[ flatly: ]

I got hit by a truck during a blizzard and I was unconscious for a while... I think I would have died of blood loss if-- [ she swallows. she started off nonchalantly, but now continuing is taking a lot out of her. ] they didn't come.

So, I owe Vietnam a lot.

[ even if she's died here already... still, that was still an escape from death, and she couldn't be any more grateful for her. ]

[sortileges]

[ He pauses at that, only moving to squeeze her hand again while he watches her. He has to try and remember what a truck even is, but going through all the new vocabulary in his head turns up a result and he winces. ]

What were you doing outside in a blizzard to begin with? [ smh ] Though I'm glad she was there to help you.

[ Maybe next time he won't complain so much when Vietnam treats him like her slave :c ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she doesn't try to defend herself especially when the story really did sound stupid. instead, she smiles nervously, cheeks twitching every now and then. ]

I saw my mother.

[ she'd told him about metis, so she thinks... so maybe she doesn't have to explain any further. ]

[sortileges]

[ He gets it instantly, after the memories he saw, after what she told him. He knows how important his own mother is to him too.

He understands completely.

It's why he doesn't even say anything, just gently turns her hand to kiss her knuckles. He doesn't need to say anything. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ hah... her breathing gets a bit heavier when he brings her hand to his lips. why does he have to be so sweet... this is why she couldn't think that he liked her back before. but at least now, things are clear. still, though, the way he continues acting towards her might just make her fall harder. ]

It's fine now. I'm over it.

[ her smile turns into a more genuine one. she really communicates through her smiles. ]

I'll get over what happened in that mirror room, too. I have to.

[sortileges]

Still... [ His other hand moves to lightly slide her hair behind her ear, eyes dipping to her jaw. ] I'm sorry.

[ Even if it isn't his place to apologise for her seeing her mother during the blizzard. The other thing though... ] and I'm sorry for what happened there. You already saw enough, but it still-- [ kept going. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she lays back down slowly, pulling him with her. if he wants to talk about this, then she may as well try to relax while doing so. there's not much to say, really. but if he ever asks anything, she'll answer with the truth. ]

It happens... This place makes you see things that you don't-- you shouldn't see.

[ a deep breath, and then she closes her eyes. ]

I'm sorry I saw your painful memories.

[sortileges]

[ They already talked about it enough, but it's the fact that she brought up what this place was like... and the fact that the Flamines were a threat while he didn't seem too bothered by it. It just linked together. ]

It isn't me that I'm worried about. [ He makes himself comfortable next to her, hand entwining with hers properly while he shifts onto his side. His shoulder will start to ache soon enough, but for now this is more than alright. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ most people woukld find what he just said to. Be annoying, but athena just gives the issue the silent Treatment. That is, until she spots one of thr stars above them twinkle ever so brightly. ]

I'm the same. [ it doesn't matter what happens to her, so long that everybody else is ok. ]

[sortileges]

[ It's definitely annoying, but... it's also something he's been used to thinking like. Back home he's more powerful than anyone else he knows, and really even if Uther wanted to kill him he wouldn't be able to. Not really.

But... he can try and let that mindset fall through a little, while they're holding hands like this. Under the same night sky. On the same blanket. He lets his eyes shut. ]

So if I watch your back, will you watch mine? [ It's the closest she's getting to him being a little more careful about himself anyway smh ]

[psycholawgy]

[ hey. merlin may not notice that it perks her up a bit. ]

I can do that. We'll be like a team!

[ she laughs, just wanting to hold his hand a bit longer more than anything else. ]

We can discuss it another time?

[sortileges]

[ Considering it was what he was aiming for--

Yeah, he definitely notices. He breathes out slowly instead, not replying right away but instead looking at her quietly. Even if she's still looking at that sky that was twinkling brightly, he's looking at his favourite star right beside him. gross ]

Another time. [ He clears his throat as he looks away, and considering the random questions she asked earlier, he decides to bring something else into the conversation. ]

Other than the aquarium... is there anywhere else you'd want to go?

[psycholawgy]

[ that is gross, merlin. . .

she looks back at him without saying anything, but eventually breaks the ice with a cheerful grin. ]

Wow, that's a tough one. . . [ she looks at him curiously, eyelashes batting every now and then. ] There's no place else that I want to go right now. Why do you ask?

[sortileges]

[ king of grossness

though thankfully he smiles right back at her, laughing slightly because: ]

It's going to be difficult to top the dates we've had, isn't it?

[ He definitely just said the "d" word. ]

[psycholawgy]

D- dates?

[ she... never really considered those times when they would spend time together as dates.]

I- I don't— Were they dates? I just thought were spending time together.

[sortileges]

Technically? No. [ He just... wanted to fluster her. ] Though even if neither of us were entirely sure, that night in the gardens came close.

[ She did leave by hugging him and kissing him on the cheek-- ]

I didn't really know of the term until I came here, so I have a loose idea of what it means but for me it feels like a time when you spend a precious moment with someone. Right? [ Like when Arthur took Gwen on a picnic... offered to make her "dinner" (guess what didn't happen there) ]

[psycholawgy]

[ he's definitely done a good job of getting her flustered. she turns to the side so merlin can't see how embarrassed she looks.]

I don't think we have to call it anything... do you want to call them dates? [ a beat. ]

Or, the next time we do something together. . . would those be dates?

[sortileges]

[ How precious... Isn't it such a shame he's harder to fluster like this? Rather than leaning to try and see her face though, he curls his arm around her, pulls himself closer until he can easily give her his answer by talking quietly into her ear: ] Next time. Though we could call them something else.

I'd have a different name for it anyway. [ "courting" u//u ] What do you want?

[psycholawgy]

[ ah, that's close... and she feels uneasy for a few good seconds before her mind and body realise that it's just merlin. it's okay for him to be this close to her.

her thoughts get even more jumbled up when he whispers in her ear. her ear suddenly feels warm from his breath touching her skin, and it sends a tingling feeling down her spine. it's not bad, but it does make her feel absolutely giddy. ]

Well, I'm not sure... but traditionally. . . courtship would be the right term for it.

I'd like to think so, anyway.

[sortileges]

[ A small laugh follows that, and even though she can't see him he chews his lip a little. ]

That's what it would be to me. [ A beat, then: ] It feels more meaningful.

[ It's after murmuring that he shifts just a little more so he can press his forehead against her neck, successfully curling into her properly. It's warmer like this, for one thing, but it's to hide how happy he feels about her response. ]