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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]

[ Wow... he tries to be nice and this is what he gets?

Thankfully she isn't and thankfully he pulls his hands away to press them on either side of her, holding onto the cooler instead. He uses it to pull himself to his knees and leans in like he's going to kiss her--instead though, he just hovers there. ]

You say that like we haven't already crossed that line. Are you getting shy on me?

[ actual worst tbh ]

[psycholawgy]

[ no, no, too close. she wants to be as close to him as possible, but when she's surprised like this, she can't handle it. her mind's gone blank and she has no idea what is happening anymore. ]

I asked-- [ a pause, and she takes a deep breath. this is hard to say... no, it's embarrassing to say. . . especially out loud. there's a reason why she just texted them and not called them. ] Because-- I didn't want to get my hopes up.

[sortileges]

[ It's surprisingly honest after she seems to have worked herself up over admitting this. Quietly he finally leans the rest of the way, but it's to kiss her cheek, pulling her into a hug after. ]

But you didn't. [ Even his voice has a smile to it, a soft little laugh. It's precious that she worried about it, really. Then again, he has no idea when this started. ] I'm right here, see? And I'm really not going anywhere. Well... to my apartment but that's still rather close, isn't it?

[psycholawgy]

[ she returns that hug tightly, even resting her head on his shoulder. why... why does this have to end. athena isn't ready yet. ]

I didn't, because I didn't want to. . . [ her mouth curves into a pout. ] I was fine without not telling you but-- [ well, things have certainly changed, haven't they.

and merlin doesn't have to know when this started. she'd get even more embarrassed that way. at the same time, she doesn't want to know how or why or when merlin became attracted to her. ]

[sortileges]

[ Her hair is still tied up, which makes it easier for him to tilt his head, kissing her neck this time as he holds her just a tightly. ]

But I'm glad you did. [ His mouth moves up to her ear, kisses right at the bottom of it. ] We wouldn't be right here otherwise, would we? [ Because he wasn't sure if or when he'd say anything either.

Then softly: ] I wouldn't be yours like I am now.

[psycholawgy]

[ oh god. athena has to brace herself for her dear life because her neck may or may not be a sensual spot. she only lets out deep breaths, doing her best to control herself from acting any funnier than she already is.

she does squeeze his shoulders a bit, though. that's about all she can do.

please stop kidding her there. ]

Y- Yeah... it worked out fine. It turns out I was afraid of nothing.

[sortileges]

[ Look he doesn't know that... it's just the easiest place to reach when she's burying her head against him okay? ]

You can tell them that now too. [ He pulls back enough the he can hopefully peek at her face, and then he tries to fluster her further with: ] You can tell them how you make my heart sing, how you make me smile and make me happy--

[ What an embarrassing person ]

[psycholawgy]

[ she ALMOST falls off the cooler because jfc merlin. she already looks like a mess, there's no need for this! ]

I-- Merlin, stop!

[sortileges]

[ He has no self control... But at least he has a good enough grip on her that she isn't going anywhere. ]

I'll stop. [ He can't help it... he laughs. ] Is it really that difficult to hear?

[psycholawgy]

[ don't laugh at her plight!? ]

That's just giving way too much detail. That don't have to know.

[sortileges]

[ It's difficult when she's like this, okay?! In a nice way anyway... it's cute. ]

You can tell them whatever you want.

[psycholawgy]

[ she finishes her juice, shaking her head slowly as she does. and once the glass is empty, she puts it back in the basket which she'll be carrying home. her abashed look hasn't changed, though. she's so flustered right now. ]

They don't have to know.

[sortileges]

[ He bites into his lower lip when she pulls back to do that, the look on her face is...




tempting. (not in a gross way jfc) Either way he can't help himself when he reaches out for her face to cup it, laughing out a breath. ]

What kind of face is this? [ It's a soft murmur before he leans to kiss her again. At least they both taste of juice rather than anything else now. ] Stubborn. [ Not like he can say anything about that....... ]

[psycholawgy]

[ he really does know how to make her keysmash internally. her mind almost shuts down at the kis but it reboots when he pulls away. he's got two on athena now, and as flustered as she is, she can't let that happen. ]

You're stubborn-- [ and once again, she returns the kiss, licking her lips when she pulls away.

she'll catch up later. for now, he has a one kiss lead on her. this isn't a competition, but athena would really like to show her affection in this manner. ]

[sortileges]

Sometimes, probably. [ But he does at least gives her some space then, shifting to stand instead before his legs end up pretty dead.

It's signifying that it's almost time for them to go though. Especially when he adds: ]

Is it just the blanket on the floor and the pillows left?

[psycholawgy]

Yes, just those. And the cooler and the basket, of course.

[ which she can carry herself. ]

[sortileges]

[ Stepping off the blankets he pulls them aside so they won't get caught on anything, and before she can protest holds his hand up. With magic, the blanket folds itself in half first then starts rolling itself up so it's all neatly put away. The pillows seem to... walk??? until they're all flopped on top of each other.

He just shrugs when he looks back at her, reaches to finishes his juice off like he hasn't done anything at all. ] Just shoes left then.

[ Show off tbh ]

[psycholawgy]

[ grrr. she looks... slightly displeased. ]

You- You weren't supposed to do anything. It was my surprise, so I should've fixed it up.

[ a beat, and her expression lightens. ]

But thanks... [ she bends down to put her shoes on now. ]

[sortileges]

Just thought I'd liven things up a bit. [ ...why is he laughing at this ] Y'know, because they're... moving by themselves.

[ Lame, tbh.

At least he doesn't pull the same trick again and actually walks to pick his own up, it's only when he walks back that he leans to put his glass in the basket and sit on the floor to pull on his shoes properly. ]

[psycholawgy]

[ was that supposed to be a joke, because she doesn't get... it... ah. . . ]

Thanks. For last night. It was... fun.

[sortileges]

[ He tried so hard too............

And Athena don't make this sound like a hook up?!?! ]

It was. [ He glances back at her. ] We have plenty of time to do something like this again though, right? Maybe not here, but... Other things.

[psycholawgy]

[ YOU'RE READING WAY INTO THIS!!!

she gets up and grabs the cooler and the basket. ]

Okay, I may actually need your help with the blankets this time. But, yes, next time sounds lovely.

[sortileges]

[ YEAH........ WELL!!!!

Thankfully he does reach for the blankets normally once his shoes are on and he's standing. It's easy enough to hold them in one hand. ]

Next time. [ It feels like an even better promise than the last time they did this. ] Do we have everything?

[psycholawgy]

[ she looks around the vicinity; it doesn't look like there's anything she's forgotten. ]

That's everything.

[ she smiles, unsure. ]

I guess that's it. Let's go? [ she makes a motion to extend her hand, but she's carrying so much stuff that she can't even reach for his.

ah.... ]

[sortileges]

[ So they have everything, and it's... finished. The let's go has him reaching for her hand too, rather than causing problems though it's the hand with the basket he reaches for though, curling his hand against hers where she's gripping it.

He even gives her a smile as if to say he thought of this already (he didn't, but her disappointment... was kind of felt by him too so!! Why not like this? ]

Let's go.