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 grins. "We'll have to be discreet.. which might be difficult, considering that almost my entire staff lives here, too."

[ayoungboy]

"Of course." Merlin nods seriously.

[royalpratness]

"Good. I'll see you later." Arthur smiles and turns to leave. He has an important meeting with another landowner in a few hours and needs to get ready.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin is in a state of bliss. He touches his lips every few minutes, marveling.

[royalpratness]

Over the next few days, Arthur makes sure that Merlin gets enough rest and accompanies him for short walks around the garden. He also informs the staff that Merlin will be staying with them over the winter as he can't possibly return to the circus and live in a tent when it's snowing outside, due to his fragile health.

A week later after dinner, Arthur pulls Merlin to the side. "If you want, you could come to my room tonight.."

[ayoungboy]

Arthur is so kind to him. Merlin makes up his mind that he will not be a burden on the man at all for the duration of his stay.

But when Merlin hears that offer, his mouth goes dry with nerves. "Y-yes I'll - I'll meet you."

[royalpratness]

"Make sure that nobody sees you." Arthur reminds him, briefly squeezing Merlin's arm and walking upstairs.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin is very careful, and he makes it to Arthur's room undetected. He slips in nervously, pressing flat against the door after he slips inside.

[royalpratness]

Arthur is sitting on the bed, putting away his book when Merlin enters. "Hey. Lock the door?"

[ayoungboy]

Merlin turns and does so, cheeks pink at the thoughts of everything he'd been denying himself. "Hello."

[royalpratness]

Arthur waves him over to sit down on the bed. "I was thinking... can you lock the room with your powers? And maybe sound proof it as well?"

[ayoungboy]

"I...can try." Merlin nods, eyes flashing gold.

[royalpratness]

"Guess we have to trust your abilities now since we can't go and check if it worked." Arthur frowns.

[ayoungboy]

"It should work." Merlin nods, slowly approaching the bed.

[royalpratness]

"Let's hope so." Arthur smiles, reaching a hand out for Merlin.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin bites his lip and takes Arthur's hand, slowly sitting down.

[royalpratness]

Arthur squeezes Merlin's hand reassuringly, seeing how nervous he seems to be. "Okay, ground rules. This is an agreement between two fully consenting adults, right? It's not amy kind of 'payment' for my offer to stay here over the winter, let alone for making sure you didn't die of pneumonia. You owe me nothing."

[ayoungboy]

"No, it's not payment." Merlin flushes at the insinuation. "...fact, probably owe you more now for even entertaining the idea of...being with...me. I've never...I want to...yeah."

[royalpratness]

"Good. So we agree that this is mutually benefitial." Arthur nods, looking happy with that.

[ayoungboy]

"Yeah." Merlin nods. He'd always imagined romance, but Arthur was sweet, kind, and not at all bad on the eyes.

[royalpratness]

Arthur nods again. "Okay. If either of us isn't okay with anything the other wants, we gotta tell each other."

[ayoungboy]

"Okay." Merlin agrees, shyly threading their fingers.

[royalpratness]

"Okay" Arthur smiles, leaning in to kiss him.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin blushes and kisses him back warmly.

[royalpratness]

Arthur keeps kissing Merlin for a while to break the ice.Eventually, he pulls off Merlin's shirt as well as his own and gently pushes Merlin down to the bed.