pratentious | [ ic; contact ]

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[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! ]

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[He's just as confused as you are, leave him alone.]

You could be...encouraging? Errr it's a good thing that he's looking, right? Means he's. Willing to fit in.

[All of that said with a dubious expression.]

Willing to fit in.

[ repeated half derisively - half experimentally, as though he's trying to get a feel for the words. ]

[ but then he just frowns. ]

Perhaps he's taken ill.

[ or gone mad. possibly gone mad. maybe even both oh gods ]

He doesn't sound ill.

Maybe he's...actually trying. [He's not getting his hopes up, because it's Uther, but Merlin wishes it's true for Arthur and Morgana's sake.

Merlin pauses.]

Do you think it's...because of that...talk?

[ Arthur sobers quickly, sitting up a little with a deep inhale. He won't quite meet Merlin's eyes. ]

That would likely be the most logical explanation.

[ He considers it a second longer, then scrubs a hand over his face. ]

I should speak with him.

[Merlin winces, looking away as well.]

I've made things complicated for you.

[There's no apology forthcoming, though. He's sorry that Arthur has to deal with the fallout. He's not sorry that Arthur knows the truth.]

[ He's quiet a moment, then huffs in false irritation. ]

That much goes without saying, certainly, but my life was fairly complicated long before you prodded your way into it.

[ Before he was born, even! He makes a dismissive handwave. ]

[His mouth quirks into a small smile at the phrasing.]

Prodded my way in?

[More like crashed into it, Merlin thinks with some amusement. Though that street goes both ways. Arthur wasn't the only one who drastically changed because of their meeting.]

Mm, quite. Any half-decent manservant would've kept their head down and gone about their own business. But you?

[ His eyes narrow with very clear amusement. ]

I should only be so lucky.

Maybe it's because I wasn't your servant then. The fault was entirely yours.

[Merlin shakes his head at the memory. They'd been at each other other throats then, hadn't they? Getting thrown in the dungeons, starting a duel...]

I mean, really, Arthur. "Practice my knee-walking"?

[ He snorts and rolls his eyes. ]

Yes, Merlin. And all these years later, you've still yet to learn how to defer to your superiors. I let you get off far too easily.

[Have an eye roll in return.]

What superiors?

Oh, is that how you'd like to play it?

[ do not challenge him, Merlin ~~he will show you his superiority.~~ ]

You know, I have been meaning to install stocks at the Citadel -

[Merlin makes a face--that's definitely something he hasn't missed over the years--then looks thoughtful.]

Would the Natives even want to throw fruit and vegetables at one of the Travelers?

The Natives? Oh no. This would be a privilege for only your very best of friends.

[ hi hello New Camelot and Team Free Will and any other stragglers he can rope along from the network, come throw food at an idiot! ]

[A pause, followed by a thoughtful silence, followed by an innocent look.]

With you at the forefront, I'm guessing?

[ Arthur just makes a face. ]

I would never.

[ Which is obv. why he's grinning haha yay ! ]

'course you would. [For some reason, his grin only widens.]

You said it's a privilege for only my best of friends. That's you--before everyone else.

[He lets that hang in the space between them (so to speak) for a moment.]

But if you're that conflicted, you could always not have the stocks built.

[ Oh, God. He rolls his eyes again, shaking his head, but there's a smile threatening his lips with laughter. ]

If this is your attempt to dissuade me, you'll have to do much better than that.

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