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]

Merlin raises an eyebrow at the privacy request, but he doesn't mind. "Will your wife be joining us?"

"Ah...when I was about...16? 16 or 17."

[royalpratness]

"I'm not married." Arthur smiles and adds. "Odd at my age, I know. I ... didn't find the right person just yet."

He takes a sip from his wine. "Oh that must have been..ten years ago?" He guesses.

[ayoungboy]

"Really? Wow. If there's no one for you, what hope is there for the rest of us?" Merlin jokes.

"Ah, almost. I'm 24."

[royalpratness]

"I'll take that as a compliment." Arthur grins over the rim of his glass. "Why did you join in the first place?"

[ayoungboy]

"Mum wanted opportunites for me. Village wasn't as accepting of my abilities as carnie folk, so I didn't have many."

[royalpratness]

"I'm sorry to hear that." Arthur frowns. "It must have been difficult to leave your home and family."

[ayoungboy]

"A bit, but. The ringmaster is a family friend." Merlin smiles a little. "So I wasn't completely alone."

[royalpratness]

"That's something. Are you still in touch with your family?" Arthur imagines that it must be difficult since the circus is moving around so much

[ayoungboy]

"It's just my mum, really. I send her letters."

[royalpratness]

Arthur smiles but there's a sad look in his eyes. "It's good to have family."

[ayoungboy]

"You don't?" Merlin tilts his head a little.

[royalpratness]

"No, not anymore." Arthur sighs. "I never knew my mother and my father passed away last year. I have a half-sister but she lives down in London. I don't get to see her often."

[ayoungboy]

"I'm sorry, Arthur." Merlin smiles sadly, but understandingly.

[royalpratness]

"It's fine. I got a lot of company." Unfortunately, only by people he's paying to stay around and look after him and the house.

[ayoungboy]

"And I've got the carnival. Could be worse, right?"

[royalpratness]

"It could." Arthur agrees just when the door opens and their food is being carried in by an elderly woman. "Thank you, Alice."

[ayoungboy]

"What are we having?" Merlin asks, inhaling deeply as the food is brought in.

[royalpratness]

"Roasted chicken with potatoes and vegetables." Alice informs him, smiling at Merlin. "It looks like you need an extra large portion, young man! Look at you, you're only skin and bones."

At the other side of the table, Arthur chuckles.

[ayoungboy]

"No thank you, madame." Merlin blushes a little. Yeah, he's a little thin.

[royalpratness]

Alice huffs and waves a finger at Merlin. "You need to eat more!" With that, she disappears back into the kitchen, leaving Arthur and Merlin alone.

"She's lovely, Alice is."

[ayoungboy]

"...I can tell."

[royalpratness]

"Go ahead, eat." Arthur picks up his knife and fork. "I reckon you don't get meals like that at the circus?"

[ayoungboy]

"Ah, no, not as much as this," Merlin admits, picking up his silverware.

[royalpratness]

"Enjoy." Arthur grins, starting with his own dinner. It's delicious as always and the wine is just the right one to go with it.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin tries to be polite and eat slowly, but it's too good and he finishes his plate quicker than expected.