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

[ayoungboy]

The sorcerer blushes, glancing down at his tea. "Only ever shared with my mum."

[royalpratness]

"Well you better get used to this." Arthur winks, sliding closer to Merlin.

[ayoungboy]

"Oh?" Merlin smiles shyly.

[royalpratness]

"Yup. We'll be spending a lot of time here." Arthur leans against Merlin's side.

[ayoungboy]

"Sounds good to me..." Merlin brushes his hand over Arthur's shoulder.

[royalpratness]

"I'm glad we agree on this." Arthur rests a hand on Merlin's arm. "Have you ever thought about starting a family?"

[ayoungboy]

Merlin coughs in surprise. "I don't think, ah, I don't that's physically possible, Arthur."

[royalpratness]

Arthur rolls his eyes but chuckles at the same time. "With a woman, Merlin."

[ayoungboy]

"I'm...not really attracted to women." Merlin gives Arthur a significant look. "I mean, I like kids. It's the whole wife bit..."

[royalpratness]

"I know what you mean." Arthur sighs, staring into the fire. "I'd love to have children."

[ayoungboy]

"Maybe...adoption? Adopt a child?" Merlin suggests gently.

[royalpratness]

"That is hardly possible. A bachelor like me would never be allowed to adopt somebody else's child."

[ayoungboy]

"An orphan, you know. From one of the children's homes..." Merlin stares into the fire. "I've gone and performed there for free before. They're quite awful."

[royalpratness]

"They wouldn't give an orphan to somebody like me. And even if they did, people would start talking." Arthur cringes at the mere thought of what kind of rumours that might cause.

[ayoungboy]

"Who cares what people think?" Merlin snuggles back into Arthur. "You'd be giving a child a good home."

[royalpratness]

"I wish it was that easy, Merlin." Arthur smiles sadly, taking Merlin's hand into his.

[ayoungboy]

"Why isn't it?" Merlin asks, threading their fingers and tilting his head up at Arthur.

[royalpratness]

"You are quite naive, Merlin." He squeezes Merlin's hand gently. "The only reason an unmarried man like me would take a child out of an orphanage, is to put him or her to work on my estate. People don't adopt other people's children. It's not done."

[ayoungboy]

"Clearly, you don't need another farmhand." Merlin points out. "Anyone can see that."

[royalpratness]

"No, I really don't." Arthur sighs. "Some things are just not meant to be."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin frowns, not liking that saddened tone to Arthur's voice.

[royalpratness]

"Sorry." Arthur clears his throat. "I didn't mean to get all gloomy."

[ayoungboy]

"It's okay," Merlin soothes, nuzzling his face into Arthur's neck.

[royalpratness]

"I'm glad you're here, you know." Arthur squeezes Merlin's waist.

[ayoungboy]

"Yeah?" Merlin smiles.