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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]

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. ]