sortileges |

[ the cosplay cafe does cater to... a certain kind of demographic, that's for sure. athena decides not to make any further comments regarding what kind of things their patrons make her do. she's survived for half a year, so it truly can't be that bad. hopefully, merlin stays too.

she looks up at the ceiling for a few seconds as she contemplates on his question. she even lifts a hand so she can poke at her earring, but she stops herself midway because she feels like it would be un-princess-like to do so. she slips her hand on the table, instead. ]

Well, I could, if you asked me something. We might be pretending, but it's not like you're an actual customer.

[ Shoulder massages are one thing, feet are another. Gross. So far it hasn't been so bad for him though, most of the time they just complain their favourite girl isn't working that night. There's been more female types but they don't seem to go for weird things like that.

Though when she replies he leans back in his seat, clasps his hands on the table. He glances down at them, rolls his lower lip through his teeth. ]

Why-- [ He clears his throat. ] Why did you choose that dress?

[ her gaze falls on his hands, and then he suddenly asks the question. it's not weird by any means, though it does make her feel like she's at the detention center and she's being interrogated.

still, she answers right away. ]

I wanted to look nice. And this was the only princess dress around right now. [ "why?", she'd continue, and even ask if she should have chosen something else, but it's not her place to be asking questions right now. ]

Edited 2016-02-28 22:05 (UTC)

[ His hands don't stay still, he rolls his thumbs, swallows when she watches them as well. I wanted to look nice. She definitely accomplished that. It's weird to hear those words after the post-it he'd left in response to her doodle that time too, maybe that's why his chest feels tight?

He'll tell himself that for the time being, at least. ]

The head... thing isn't that accurate though. [ His lips twitch slightly. ] They must have come into fashion later. But it ...suits you.

[ she can't help but laugh and grin st the compliment. dressing up's never made her uncomfortable before, and while she's used to receiving compliments over how she's dressed, by other people, this one feels a but more special.

it's then that she remembers that she should probably drink something, too. she's just been sitting in place and doing nothing... how awkward and stiff she must be. so she pours herself a cup of tea. ]

Thanks. [ and then she looks away right after because she could feel her cheeks begin to flush. ah... not as planned. ] It's kind of weird not having Widget on [ as this is the only time she's worn a costume without him. ] but I think I'll get used to it.

[ she slowly takes off her headpiece and sets it on the table. ] This is called a tiara. It's a lot like a crown, though I'm sure it's more comfortable to wear than a crown.

[ okay, talk about something else. good. ]

Are crowns actually heavy?

[ His hands twitch when she laughs, and at first he wonders if he said something weird. Thankfully it's a laugh and not the opposite, he tries to relax, but it honestly isn't that easy at the moment. ]

It's weird seeing you without it. [ He taps at the table, reaching for the tiara when she sets it down. ] I wouldn't really know. Arthur's mother died, and ... [ Okay, now he laughs slightly. ] The only time King Uther remarried was when he was enchanted by a troll. [ Everyone can laugh forever about that part tbh. ] Crowns are only used for weddings or coronations, I think.

Usually Arthur wears a thin metal band, and Morgana... it's more like a pendant with chains than a crown. Does that make sense?

[ a hum escapes her as she takes a sip off her tea. it's still a bit warm, thankfully. it's once she sets the cup back down that she speaks again. let's never talk about how she almost spit her tea at the mention of the troll, though. she managed to control herself. ]

A what? How did that happen? [ try not to laugh, try not to laugh. that's rude. ]

And I think I can imagine it. Who is Morgana, though?

[ Ah, she might be trying to hold it back but he can't help it. ]

Oh, yes. A big fat troll actually. She smelled disgusting. He was... enchanted to think she was the beautiful lady he once knew though. Eventually I managed to break the enchantment for her appearance but the love spell was something else. [ He scratches his cheek. ]

And Lady Morgana... is the King's Ward. Her father was in his service, so the King took her into his care.

[ His eyes flicker down to his own tea then, pulling it up to take a sip. ]

[ the story about the troll is so gross... she just makes a face as she listens, not even sure what to think of this uther guy anymore... she hopes he really never comes to cerealia, else she'll just laugh at him forever while trying to change his mind about magic.

as for morgana, though, she sounds like something else... ]

What's she like? Is she pretty? [ her smile grows wider as her curiosity strengthens. who knew just talking about home could be fun?

though she hopes that she won't step on any landmines with her questions. ]

[ Uther is a hot mess, that's the only answer to that. There's a reason the one he supports is Arthur, not Uther. But that isn't important right now.

He chokes on his tea, wishing he hadn't chosen that moment to take a large gulp of it and covers his mouth with his hand.

Maybe that answers that for you, Athena. ] Why-- [ Wait, he needs to stop coughing first, reaching for the napkin holder to mop up the tea he just coughed onto the table. ] Why do you ask?

[ now who's the hot mess? she just stares at merlin for a few good seconds, arching an eyebrow slowly at his latest performance. ]

I'm curious, that's all.

[ mostly because there's the idea that anybody who lives in a castle is absolutely gorgeous. the princesses in the storybooks she's read when she was a child definitely made her think so. while morgana isn't a princess, it sure seems like she's almost one. ]

But I guess you should be asking the questions, huh?

[ He drags a hand down his face once that's over, trying to not look her in the eye. ]

It's fine, I just wasn't expecting it. [ And there are various flashbacks of Arthur assuming the wrong idea because he took her flowers and then the fact that he knows she has magic, but he promised he'd keep that a secret.

It's complicated. The four of them are good friends. Then again he's had warnings, too. ]

She's... strong willed. She stands up to Uther more than Arthur does actually. Though I fear what that will mean for the future. [ The witch must not realise the extent of her powers. He swallows. ] Yet, also caring. She took a young boy into her care when Uther would have had him killed. She doesn't believe in killing those that have magic, though I never told her who I am... What I can do. I can't.

As for her looks... [ Why is this happening? ] She's... [ He pauses for a moment as he finally looks back at Athena, fingers fiddling with a damp napkin. ] She's. Stunning? Like when she walks into the room, you can't help but follow her with your eyes.

[ ...ah ]

[ it must be really difficult to hide such a big secret from people, especially his friends. but if it's for the best, then it's a good decision. hopefully, it never backfires on merlin--not telling people about himself and his magic, anyway.

at the mention of her looks, she swoons. she sounds so dreamy! like the princesses she's read about, and she just sounds like the coolest person ever. ]

Oh! Gosh, I'd really love to meet her one day. She sounds so great, and I bet she'd be the prettiest in Cerealia, too!

[ Oh it will definitely backfire if after how he's acted here and one of them shows up--but he tries to not think about that. He'll deal with it when it happens. But.

His eyes drop. ] I'm not sure how she'd cope with a place like this. Not really.

[ It's so solemn in contrast to Athena's swooning. Soft. Sad, even. ]

[ it's then that the recent events come back to her. nobody's truly able to cope in this place, so merlin is probably right.

she puts a hand on the side of her head and rubs it, and then she looks to the side. cake sounds so good right now... just look at that rainbow cake by the counter-- ah, she's getting distracted again. but she feels like she wouldn't be able to control herself anyway. so she gets up and heads to the counter and grab a slice of cake.

this is fine. ]

It's-- weird, isn't it? Having to go back to normal after what's happened. And then we just wait for the next worst thing.

It's always scary to sleep. I don't want to wake up the next day sometimes; especially when something bad could happen when the sun rises.

[ He watches her get up to get the cake, going quiet. For him it isn't as weird as it might be for some others. Especially for those who lived a fairly normal life. Even with Athena's strange ability, the amount of danger she's been in probably hasn't compared. ]

I wouldn't know, not really. [ He rubs his thumb over the edge of the table. ] I've been in the middle of a forest, keeping watch while the others sleep. Been asleep while merely one man keeps watch of a group of us when we know there are creatures all around us that can kill us. Sometimes we're looking for an enemy. We've infiltrated enemy land and been taken prisoner.

[ He shifts in his seat. ] Though usually those things wouldn't affect someone like her. Or like you. [ He looks up at her, sympathetic. ] I'm sorry.

[ It isn't his fault really but... He still feels it. ]

[ she remains quiet until she walks back to her seat, letting the click of her heels echo through the room. though once she's ssated again and has offered a fork to merlin, she responds. ]

I'm fine with bad things happening to me. It's terrible, and it makes me shake in fear at times, but better me than anybody else.

[ she slices the cake with the side of her fork, and then she laughs sheepishly. ]

I've never told anybody this before.

You shouldn't be. You shouldn't have to be. [ He takes the fork, but he doesn't cut any of the cake yet. ] That's why I got so angry... when we were back there. In that place.

In future, I don't want you to think that way. If it happens to you, people will still be upset. [ I'll be upset. ] Hopefully in future we'll all be able to come up with ways to work together, even in different areas.

[ she can't help but think that way. she's tired of being protected, really. it's upsetting to her how she can't fight or she has no special powers or whatever. the only thing she has going for her is that she doesn't give up easily, her resilience.

she stabs the piece of cake she's sliced, though she doesn't put it in her mouth yet. ]

I just don't want others getting in trouble anymore. I'm-- [ fine... but that's a lie. ] I'll be fine, no matter what.

My boss told us to smile and never give up at the hardest of times, so I have to keep smiling and make sure the people around me are okay. [ and she doesn't want to make people upset, which is why she tends to hide what happens to her. in fact, her recent death was something she's only told a couple of people. ] But I'll try my best not to think that way. I know it's a skewed way of thinking.

[ she puts the cake in her mouth and smiles. there's nothing wrong going on here, nope. ]

[ It isn't the first he's heard of this lately. Rapunzel had told him the same thing. Lili had mentioned it too and there are probably others--but the important one is the person he's talking to now, because he's already said his opinion to the others. ]

You don't have to do it alone though. [ And she won't be fine, he's only known her a few weeks, but he's seen a vast variety of emotions from her, even on the same day. ] I'm not saying give up either, I doubt you'd be able to do that, but don't try and do everything on your own either.

[ He reaches out and bops her on the head with his fork. ]

Remember that, carrot head. [ Ah. ]

[ ah... merlin gets her. she frowns as she's hit, and she doesn't even flinch or react violently to it. ]

It's something I'm working on. [ she says gently, tapping the cake with the teeth of her fork. she doesn't look him in the eye when she says it, too. instead, she looks at the empty space next to merlin. she can't look him in the eye like this. not right now. ] I've just gotten used to doing things on my own, even when I was little. [ her mother died when she was eleven, after all. and it's not like there were a lot of kids in the cosmos space center that she was able to make a lot of friends. ]

Also, [ now she looks him in the eye, eyes soft. ] you shouldn't hit princesses.

Habits can be broken. [ Is the only thing he says softly after. ] I know it'll be difficult, but I promise it's better than trying to do everything by yourself. We're all in the same boat here, right?

[ Though hah... He can't help but grin at that. ] What should I do to princesses?

[ THIS ISN'T MEANT AS SUGGESTIVE AS IT SOUNDS ]

[ it is going to be difficult, and she's slowly working towards fixing it... maybe someday in the future, she'll learn to depend on people. but for now, she'll keep doing things on her own. there are people relying on her; she can't let them down. ]

I'll do what I can.

And you should respect them, of course. [ she'd say something about dancing because she'd really like to see him dance but she'd rather not get the dress damaged because he steps on it by accident.

and even hold her hand!! but ah... she'll contain herself. she really likes how warm he is, okok. ]

[ It's a give and take thing. Equivalent exchange. She'll get there eventually, and if it comes to it he'll let her be there for others and catch her at the end, when she can't support herself quite as well.

He keeps that to himself though, lets that topic die out as he leans forward, finally takes a piece of the cake and eats it. ] I never said anything about not respecting you.

Then you should have bowed when I came back earlier, [ she says, a mischievous smile on her face. it looks like she's been waiting to say this for a while, too. ]

But I'm kidding. Don't do that.

[ it's not like she knows what princessss do, anyway. she's been called "princess" many times, but it's only because she only got what she wanted before. ]

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go back to sleep!!!

8(

well i don't want you to but ... it's too early isn't it?????

sob my mom started watching tv... no sleeping allowed now

oh no .... cries for you gently

There is no hope for me

sings you soothing songs

//////

/)///(\

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