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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]

Have I given you reason to question my health? I've not caught sick in ages, and we've not had any battles recently.

[minifridge]

You're living in a different welcome hall.

[She's worried. :c ]

[pratentious]

Actually, no, I - my father was assigned a different Hall, so I couldn't - it was -

[ Yeah, he kinda. Pushed himself to remain where he is physically unable to be. He coughs. ]

I've found us other lodgings.

[minifridge]

You-

[a sudden pang of almost childish indignation. Shock, completely without surprise.]

You're not coming back, are you?

[pratentious]

[ wow okay sucker punch to the gut much. His face completely drops, no walls to hide the conflict and devastation because God help him, he's just so fucking tired. ]

He's my father.

[minifridge]

[She feels bad about adding to his load, she truly does, but...]

Arthur...

[God, there isn't a hug big enough for his life right now. If only.]

Are... are you sure you're doing him any favors by helping him isolate himself?

[pratentious]

[ He's not raising his eyes to meet her again, and when he speaks, he speaks very carefully. ]

I am not separating Asgard from him. I am separating him from Asgard.

[ This is the only way he knows to protect Morgana and Merlin and Guinevere. If he isn't around to see them and the things they do and the people they associate with, he can't hurt them. He can't use it against them. The only one under his scrutiny now is him and that's ... that's better. That's much better. ]

[minifridge]

[Something cold drops in her stomach like a stone.]

Arthur, there's nothing to be scared of.

What about you? You can't separate yourself. It's not healthy.

[pratentious]

[ 'No,' he wants to say, 'No, you're wrong. There's plenty to fear.' But such would be slandering the King's name, and he'd sooner cut out his own tongue. As it is, he just shrugs and nods his head to the side a bit. ]

As I said. I've not caught ill in ages.

[minifridge]

I meant mentally healthy.

[pratentious]

[ He just scoffs and waves his hand dismissively. Not important. ]

[minifridge]

Arthur!

[pratentious]

Mary.

[ what. ]

[minifridge]

You can't ignore what's good for you, okay? I won't let you.

I know you're trying to do right by everyone, but this isn't the answer. You'll just drive yourself crazy and when what good will you be?

[It only looks like a joke on paper.]

[pratentious]

What's good for me?

[ We've hit a nerve. Craziness, uselessness, and all for the Great Good. Hoo boy. ]

Since when has what's good for me ever mattered? My sole purpose in life is to look after my people, to see them safe and thriving, and that's what I'm doing. What's "good" for me has nothing to do with it.

[minifridge]

It does now, because I say so.

[You've met your match, son.]

What'll keep Merlin thriving is having his best friend - or his prince around to support him. Morgana needs her brother. For god's sake, the dog misses you.

This isn't like Camelot. He can't hurt them here. [Softly.] Not if we don't let him.

[Uther isn't her father, and she knows that, but they are her friends, and there lies her sole right to a part in this play.]

[pratentious]

Because you -

[ He laughs, dry and bitter, and scrubs a hand over his mouth, then holds a finger to his lips before holding it up pointedly. ]

He is my King, and he is my father. I am his son and heir. I will not betray him.

[minifridge]

I wouldn't ask you to.

You can try and keep people from hurting each other without violence.

[pratentious]

[ He shakes his head, holding up his hand. ]

I will speak no more of this. You do not know my King, and I will not slight his name. This is my decision, Mary, and however ... disagreeable it may be, I would ask that you respect it.

[minifridge]

Slight? I didn't-

[Oh no you did not just use the Royalty Voice on her.]

I'm not disrespecting you by trying to look out for you! You said yourself you're trying to separate him, what if you don't need to?

[pratentious]

[ He did. Because he is royalty. And this is his voice. ]

I do what is deemed necessary by myself or my father. I appreciate your concern, but you may find it better suited with Morgana and Merlin.

[ And that's as much of a dismissal as any. ]

[minifridge]

[It does not... go over well. Mary can't stand being dismissed, not like this, and she does a poor job of hiding it. Which Arthur doesn't even appreciate the magnitude of, given what a fantastic liar Mary usually is. It's harder with him.]

I'm not letting you do this. Even if you won't look out for yourself, we will.

[This is another loss. She refuses to allow that to happen.]

[pratentious]

[ Whereas he's simply too tired to keep up the front on all sides. He does not lose his princely air, but his eyes reflect just what that means to him before they drop away. One nod of acknowledgement, and he shuts off the feed. ]