ayoungboy | Spellbound

This week has been fucking exhausting. He'd been consuling all week and dealing with a threat over in Norway. Somebody trying to brew mind control potions, again. Why couldn't everybody just get along and stop fussing? He's finally back home, in England, heading up the wizarding council while they go over worldwide news, and he gets an invite - no, it isn't that. It's more of a demand, from King Pendragon.

He's a bit tired, really, and didn't feel like dealing with it. "Not now, thank you. Politely decline, for me?" He told the runner. "Send him some magical candy."

He just wanted to go home and finish his book, thank you. He didn't ask for these powers, but if he took a holiday the world would flip out. People held him in high regard for some reason - he wasn't that wise, or old. He was just a young man trying to do right. Yet somehow the King was demanding his presence.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

royalpratness

"That big, huh?" Arthur can't help but smirk suggestively before returning his attention to his food. "Okay. How about here?" He pats the area just below his ribcage.

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin shakes his head and looks down at his own dessert. "...yeah, that's good." He coughs awkwardly.

"So...what should our cover story be?"

From:

royalpratness

Arthur is still grinning, amused by Merlin's awkwardness. "Do we need one? Obviously, we can't tell the press about the possible legalisation of magic right away. Let's just say it's a series of friendly, political meetings to discuss topics of mutual interests." That sounds vague enough.

From:

ayoungboy

"No, I meant," Merlin gestured to the dinner. "I don't want any pictures as Emrys, but your servants or someone are bound to notice me eventually. Maybe, liaison to Emrys? Or is that too obvious?"

From:

royalpratness

"Ah, I see what you mean." Arthur ponders this for a moment. "Well, your secrecy is going to make this more difficult but I'm sure we'll be able to work around it. Liaison should be fine."

From:

ayoungboy

"Sorry." Merlin shrugs a little. "Well. Hm, apprentice type of thing maybe...I don't know, something to think on. God, sometimes I lose track of my identities."

From:

royalpratness

"How many do you have?" Arthur grins when something occurs to him. "Can you change the way you look. With a spell?"

From:

ayoungboy

"Not even sure at this point." Merlin laughs, then tilts his head. "Possibly. I'm not sure, I don't really...need to, usually?"

From:

royalpratness

"That could be a way to work around the secrecy issue. If you could change your appearance, your identity would be safe and you could still claim to be Emrys' assistant or something."

From:

ayoungboy

"That is an idea...I'll have to look into it." Merlin nods to himself, taking a bite of dessert.

From:

royalpratness

"Okay. We should probably keep in touch. Do you have a phone?" Yet another thing Arthur doesn't know - do warlocks use phones?

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin laughs a little, shaking his head. "No, I don't. Being a magician doesn't pay much, aye. Um...hm, well sometimes going through the council takes too long."

From:

royalpratness

"It doesn't pay much? Aren't you like, the king of magic users?" Arthur drops his spoon, staring at Merlin in surprise. "If you can't afford a phone, where the hell do you live?!"

From:

ayoungboy

"I'm not a king, no." Merlin snorts a little, raising an eyebrow as Arthur drops his spoon. "...where I can, mostly. I usually...stay with this friend, and work off my room and board."

From:

royalpratness

Arthur runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head in disbelief. "You don't have your own place?! A house? A flat? Anything?"

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin blinks at the reaction and shakes his head. "No. I don't pay taxes either." He beams cheekily. "Got nothing to tax on."

From:

royalpratness

"But... is that some kind of 'spiritual leader doesn't need material goods' hippie thing?"

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin laughs again, shaking his head. "No, I'm not Ghandi. I'd love to have more than three sets of clothes." Merlin can't help but be amused. "But like I said, doesn't pay much. Nothing, actually."

From:

royalpratness

"Three sets?!" By now, Arthur is almost yelling. "Why don't you get a proper job where you can actually earn money?"

From:

ayoungboy

Now Merlin's a little taken aback, though it's kind of hilarious. "...because I'm too busy protecting the people. Clearly," Merlin gestures between them. "How could I manage a steady job with all of this happening? Besides, I never even went to Uni."

From:

royalpratness

"That's...," Arthur shakes his head again, "outrageous. They should make sure that you have a place to live if you spend all your time, protecting your people."

From:

ayoungboy

Merlin shrugs again. Sometimes it's difficult, but he manages. "They don't see a person, Arthur. Emrys is just a mysterious, 'all-powerful' warlock that interferes when someone 'really fucks up'." Merlin even uses air quotes. "They don't think about who's behind the legend. And I wouldn't ask for such a thing anyway. They don't owe me anything."

From:

royalpratness

"You're something else, Merlin." How could somebody work so hard, put his own life on the line and not ask for anything in return? He pours Merlin some tea, having dismissed the servants earlier. "I'll get you a phone." He quickly raises a hand before Merlin can protest. "We'll need to stay in touch and this is the easiest way to do so."