sortileges |

[ ah, it's back! a smile crosses her lips when she sees her earring in her palm. before putting it on, she holds it close to her heart, just relieved that the promise has been kept, and that her earring—the last thing her mom's left her—is with her again. ]

When I was younger, I used to wear this as a necklace, too.

[ it only takes her a short moment for the moon to be dangling on her ear again, and she taps it once just to make sure it's there. yup. this feels a lot better. it feels like home. ]

Not when they come out of magic panties... Her tricks focus on pulling things out of a pair of trousers.

[ yup... thought that kind of sounds like something merlin would enjoy, tbh. ]

[ He shifts back a little to give her space to check the feeling of it. To get used to it again. That's when he chokes on his own saliva. ]

She what?

[ Athena what do you take him for?! ]

[ she can't help but laugh at his reaction. ]

I did say it's different from what you can do.

[ she fixes her hair and puts it on one side of her shoulder before she lays back down to relax some more. she even closes her eyes just to get a feel of the place. she stays quiet for a while, listening to the beat of their hearts. hers is beating so quickly, so nervous; she doesn't want to mess things up. not tonight. she's liking this night more than anything. it's warm, literally and figuratively. ]

[ That wasn't the point Athena... was it from panties or from trousers because of the the two proves her friend is Very Strange. ]

Of course it's different. You have to improvise if you can't literally make things appear out of no where.

[ Only now with her getting comfortable again he doesn't know what to do with himself. He can't know what she's thinking, and even if had the chance he might not want to know for sure. She looks peaceful like this though. Happy.

His eyes flicker to where her earring is now, down across her jaw and to her closed eyes--then finally he rolls onto his back, hands pressing against his face and rubbing to wake himself up.

This is stupid. ]

Maybe I'll meet her one day and she can show me.

[ eyes still closed, she asks softly- ]

Can you do me a favour? [ ah, ah, oh my god. this is it. this is it. she is going to ask him. ]

Can you hold my hand? [ a pause. and then she realises what she just said. dear god. her heart beats faster and louder, and her eyes shoot open. ] It's. Getting cold.

[ there are candles everywhere, and it's cold. ok athena. ok. ]

[ They can both be grateful her eyes are closed and his eyes are on the sky instead when she asks that. She can probably hear the jump or perhaps even leap of a beat his heart makes as he makes a soft choked noise in the back of his throat.

...It probably sounds like he's laughing at her, really he's just having a mini heart attack over here. ]

Do you want my... jacket? [ But his hand is sliding against hers, palm warm, fingers shaky. They're so smooth, right... ]

I'm fine.

[ don't smile, athena. don't smile. you're supposed to be co- no... she can't help it. she smiles. but hopefully, merlin is too busy with his weird emotions to see. ]

This is fine. [ and she squeezes his hand. ]

[ Weird emotions? He's not the only one who is currently a mess of feelings. He has no idea which to even stick to as he hasn't even known her that long but somehow his heart is jumping because this is warm. She's happy. He's happy.

It's then that he decides to just yolo it and lay there, soaking that feeling up without really thinking about where thing might be leading to.

There's plenty of time for that in the future, and he definitely doesn't want to ruin this moment. ]

It is. [ Is what he repeats back at her, squeezing her hand back as his heart skips again. ]

[ and then a thought hits her. ]

Hey... [ opening it nicely. . . ] This isn't weird, is it?

Not as weird as you. [ Sorry Athena, but you walked right into that one. It's also a bluff to hide how unsure he is about this whole thing. It is pretty weird. He can't imagine doing this with Guinevere. Even if he'd want to with Morgana to help her feel safe and not alone now he knows her secret he wouldn't be able to.

...it's definitely weird. ]

Does it bother you?

You're weirder than I am, Merlin.

[ she opens her eyes as she thinks, though she just stares at the sky without moving.

it is weird for her too, but she likes it, anyway. the hand isn't familiar in any way, but the sensation is. she knows what it's like to like somebody, and this is it... again. ]

But, no... I'm not bothered. Just- your heart is being weird.

[ and she'd honestly rather not have that. ]

[ Why are you calling him out on it now? ]

Sorry. [ It's the only thing he can think to say, because while she's explained about her own ability it's a little hard to imagine how it must sound. He can't put a name to anything and he doesn't really want her to listen to it either, not until it makes more sense.

But he'd rather keep this moment than lose it by saying something dumb.

So he takes a long breath, focuses on the sky instead until he manages to calm down a little. He has too much to consider to get caught up right now.

But this is a nice feeling. Warm. Caring. Just like her. ]

That's okay. Don't say sorry.

[ now she's feeling bothered, but ah... she won't say anything about it.

let her be selfish just this once, though. ]

[ He quietens for a minute, just to slowly tilt his head to look towards her. Candle light flickers across her face, across her hair and skin. Whatever mix of feelings had been there before (probably a hot mess of happy, sad and shocked) has dulled into a quiet mix of the three that's a lot less deafening.

But it's still present. He can't change that. ]

The last thing I want is to make you uncomfortable. [ It comes out as a murmur. They're close enough like this that it'll be easy for her to hear no matter how quietly he says it anyway. ]

[ she can see him in her periphery, but she doesn't look at him no matter how hard she wants to. he's already uncomfortable, she'd rather not make it worse. the unwanted noises have calmed down a bit, at least, and that eases the heavy feeling in her chest. ]

That's my line. [ and then she closes her eyes again. ] Just tell me if I'm being too much.

I know I can be like that. [ so she's told, anyway. ]

[ He shakes his head slightly, mouth twisting into a faint smile. ] I wouldn't have gotten you to come here if that were true, would I?

[ He squeezes her hand, slides his thumb and fingers against hers to just enjoy the sensation of such an innocent type of comfort. Of touch. ]

Try to not think about it too much, I don't want you to hurt yourself.

[ His heart is definitely showing a little more of the happy side of things now. Stop worrying, numpty. ]

[ that's true. and it makes her feel better upon hearing those words. and she does stop thinking about it, and focuses on the good side of this situation. ]

Thanks... I'll try.

[ she shifts to lie on her side and looks at him briefly.

nope. nope. abort mission. she quickly looks back up, and ends up squeezing his hand tightly. ]

Whoops.

[ He doesn't shift to his side, but he does roll his head to look at her when he feels her body moving next to his and... then the pain that shoots up his hand. ]

Ow?! [ Athena, what is wrong with you??? He almost jerks his hand back. He's definitely looking at her now though, distress at the throbbing in his poor hand. ]

Sorry, sorry! I didn't mean to...

[ she shuts her eyes tight, ashamed with herself. and it only gets worse when a squeaky voice suddenly speaks. ]

It was your face!

[ WIDGET, NO!! ]

[ Well he can believe that something set her off but--

What. ]

My face? [ Widget, yes, apparently!! He does shift onto his side then, leaning onto his arm to look at her, even though her eyes are shut tight. ]

[ she opens an eye, totally uneasy. dear god... what have you done, widget? why do you have to talk when you're not needed? ]

Fine... I'll tell you.

[ with her free hand, she pokes him on his cheek. ]

There was a mushroom on your face.

[ totes. ]

[ Robots... already refusing their master's wishes. What rebels!

When she pokes him in the face and says that the disbelief on his face is considerate. He's not stupid Athena... please. ]

Better than having a... [ He pauses, looking disturbed by his own words when he finishes with: ] potato on my face, I suppose.

[ aka HE DOESN'T BUY THAT AT ALL ]

[ she huffs and puffs her cheeks. while what merlin said made zero sense, it's still a bit insulting!! ]

You're a potato... [ no... athena, don't continue. . . ] on your prince's face.

[ WHY THIS. ]

[ His own free hand reaches out to pat her cheek, attempting to get her to stop puffing them up like a squirrel with food tucked in its pouch. ]

That doesn't even make any sense.

[ Blame Widget... ]

[ why this... why this!! she's totally panicking now, and she's slowly getting dizzy. ]

You don't make sense.

[ in her head, she calls to widget to stop talking, and thankfully, he says nothing more. and so, athena speaks again. ]

May... be we should call it a night.

[ because she doesn't want things to get any more weird. ]

CURSES

HAUNTS YOU

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject