For Your Entertainment

[ayoungboy]

The circus comes into town in the late afternoon. It's a quiet caravan, but the whispers start immediately. It's not a regular circus. This one - this is the Camelot circus. One of the most esteemed traveling acts in the country, and not for the faint of heart. This one has a flaming sword eater and a terrifying magician.

A few brave people try to peek at the preparations, but once the big tent is up, all that can really be seen are food stands being set up, and a few podiums for acts unknown. Everything else is hidden from view. You want to see? Come buy a ticket.

Comments

[royalpratness]

Arthur laughs, shaking his head. "No, don't apologise." Reaching out, he squeezes Merlin, calf.

[ayoungboy]

"But I didn't mind." Merlin finishes quietly, smiling gently.

[royalpratness]

"That's...good." Arthur clears his throat, still somewhat embrassed. "Have you ever been with a man?"

[ayoungboy]

"...no." Merlin admits, twisting his hands and allowing Arthur's on his calf. "Have you?"

[royalpratness]

"Yes, but only once. I was eighteen back then." Arthur smiles fondly at the memory.

[ayoungboy]

"What was it like?" Merlin asks, and does he look a little moony-eyed? Maybe. What, it was allowed maybe.

[royalpratness]

Arthur grins. "Not very refined as you can imagine. But it was...good." Not that he has anything to compare it to, other than sex with women and he never enjoyed that.

[ayoungboy]

"Sounds good." Merlin murmurs to himself. "I've never...told anyone." Even with Will, they never explicitly said it. Played it off as breaking the law, like kids like to do.

[royalpratness]

Arthur sighs. "Me neither. Well, I'm guessing the man back then guessed it." He rubs a hand over his face. "It is such a burden a times, isn't it?"

[ayoungboy]

"Nah, he just thought you were a woman." Merlin laughs a little. "Definitely. Is that why you were with that woman during the show?"

[royalpratness]

"No, she's a friend. I don't think she has any kind of romantic interest in me. It does help though to be seen in the company of a woman from time to time to stop rumours from spreading."

[ayoungboy]

"I suppose it does." He's gone before any rumors can start, and the carnies hardly care. "I never suspected you."

[royalpratness]

"That's reassuring, but also explains why I live like a monk." Arthur chuckles.

[ayoungboy]

"I've heard of...special holes, in taverns. Where people like us can find each other through...activities.."

[royalpratness]

Arthur pulls a face. "Yes, it's also the perfect place to contract very unpleasant diseases."

[ayoungboy]

"I've never been." Merlin flushes a little and ducks his head.

[royalpratness]

"Good call." Arthur sighs. "You must be even more frustated than I am."

[ayoungboy]

"I suppose." Merlin laughs again. "I couldn't take prison, though."

[royalpratness]

Arthur's expression changes into a more serious one. "It'd be prison if you're lucky. If caught, they kill people like us right away."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin sobers. "So...I guess you'd be right in saying m'a bit frustrated."

[royalpratness]

Arthur looks up at Merlin, licking his lips. "Feel free to slap me if I'm completely out of line here but...mabye we could... you know."

[ayoungboy]

"We - you'd - " Merlin clears his throat a little, flush high in his cheeks. But he doesn't slap Arthur, so.

[royalpratness]

"It's just a thought! Sorry if I offended you." Arthur quickly backpaddles.

[ayoungboy]

"No - no, I mean - " Merlin flails a little, not wanting Arthur to rescind his offer. "You'd, um, want to...with me?"

[royalpratness]

"Yes." Arthur's answer comes right away. "You're not exactly hard to look at."