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[pratentious]

[This time, the recording starts with a long, drawn out sigh. Then, surprisingly, it's still Merlin's voice that rattles off the voicemail in tones of long-suffering.]

Hello, you've reached King Arthur Pr--Pendragon. He isn't here to answer your call because he's incredibly important and busy. If you leave a message here with me, I'll make sure he gets it because I am a good servant--and friend-- [he adds the last bit in a rush, accompanied with a thwap!, an 'ow!' and an 'I heard that,' then forces the rest of the words out through gritted teeth] and will do anything my master asks of me.

[A couple seconds pass, then Merlin speaks again, this time sounding a bit further away, like he isn't speaking into the bracelet anymore.] There, happy now? If you ask me, the other one is still better-- Shut up, Merlin. It's time to do yours next. Wait, what --

[ click! ]

Comments

[pratentious]

[ And that, well - everything since his return from Camelot has been ... difficult. Between the warring of his memories and Morgana's disappearance, the things left unspoken between them all, Arthur has made himself scarce and distant, he knows. Their house has not been this quiet in all the time they've been here, and yet - the gesture is so ridiculous, so absurd amidst all the shit, that Arthur throws his head back and laughs. He howls with it until tears spring into the corners of his eyes and he has to clap a hand to Merlin's shoulder to remain upright. ]

That's - that is completely inane. You - [ He cracks, shaking his head, unable to stop the mirth bubbling up from his chest in uncontrollable laughter. ] - you are - this is perfect for you.

[ And another hearty clap to the centre of Merlin's back as he wipes tears away with his other hand. ]

[dragonspeak]

[The flare of indignation sputters out pretty quickly in the face of Arthur's mirth. It's been a while since Merlin's really heard Arthur laugh so heartily, and he can't even muster up proper irritation at the gibe.

So he gives Arthur a half-hearted scowl.]

So you're basically saying I'm inane?

[pratentious]

Been saying it for years, Merlin, don't act insulted now.

[ He might still be sniggering, just a bit. Don't look now, but you might just be the first and only solution to your King's melancholia. ]

[dragonspeak]

I've been calling you a bone-idle toad for years, and you still protest.

[Just going to pull a face in direction since you're so busy laughing.]

[pratentious]

My word counts for far more than does yours.

[ Shoving your head playfully as he passes him into the kitchen, mussing his hair. ]

Fetch me a glass of water, would you?

[ As he ... walks past both the cupboard and the sink on his way to the table. He wants to sit and contemplate these things more. ]

[dragonspeak]

You've got hands, do it yourself.

[But it looks like Arthur isn't even paying attention to him.]

Bone-idle toad. [Merlin hisses the words meaningfully as he passes by him.]

[pratentious]

Dog, stick. We've had this conversation.

[ Not paying a lick of attention. He's too busy flicking through the emoticons. When he pulls up this one, (=´∀｀)人(´∀｀=), his brows furrow again. ]

Now what the Hell is this one supposed to be? I can fathom out the others, but there is no feasible manner in which this represents a human expression.

[dragonspeak]

[Merlin sets Arthur's glass on the table and drags his chair a little closer.]

It's um... [He stares at the screen seriously.] ...two faces? If the round parts are supposed to be the head...

[pratentious]

[ Arthur moves the bracelet closer so that Merlin doesn't have to strain quite as far, then tilts his head in search of what Merlin's describing. ]

So - this mark here, perhaps?

[ He points to the parentheses, tracing the four of them to denote where the faces stop. ]

[dragonspeak]

Something like that.

[Merlin sinks into his chair, looking put out.]

I think I've got the hang of most of them, but they're confusing.