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]

"I don't see how reading helps out your household."

[royalpratness]

"It doesn't, but it keeps you entertained." Arthur grins and turns to leave. "See you later, Merlin."

[ayoungboy]

Merlin shakes his head and can't help but smile a little. "See you, Arthur."

[royalpratness]

As promised, Arthur returns in the evening. Over the past weeks, they had gotten comfortable around each other and hence it doesn't seem weird to Arthur anymore to sit in bed next to Merlin, handing him a freshly brewed cup of tea.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin accepts with a bright thank you. He's gotten a lot better, too; Arthur's the reason he survived at all. "How was everything?"

[royalpratness]

"Dull." Arthur laughs, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt. "Dealing with all sorts of complaints."

[ayoungboy]

"Oh? Like what?" Merlin asks, sipping his tea.

[royalpratness]

"Like compensations for bad harvests or complaints that somebody's neighbour got two cows more than he himself." Arthur stretches his legs, tempted to lie down.

[ayoungboy]

"Are they legal?"

[royalpratness]

Arthur tilts his head in confusion. "The cows?"

[ayoungboy]

"The claims, Arthur." Merlin chuckles.

[royalpratness]

"Oh, the claims." Arthur blushes, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry, it has been a long day. Yes, most of them are."

[ayoungboy]

"You look tense," Merlin says, concerned.

[royalpratness]

"Just tired." Arthur smiles, allowing himself to slide further down onto the bed.

[ayoungboy]

"You should rest. You do too much, Arthur.'

[royalpratness]

"I'm just doing my job, like every other man." Arthur yawns. "Show me that dragon again." He has developed an odd fascination with Merlin creating shapes out of thin air.

[ayoungboy]

"You've got a thing for dragons, don't you, Mr. Pendragon?" Merlin laughs a little and obliges, opening his palm and letting the water moisture in the air collect into a shape.

[royalpratness]

"Must be the name." Arthur smiles, resting his hands on his stomach as he watches Merlin closely.

[ayoungboy]

Merlin sends the dragon to fly towards Arthur, breathing bubbles of water vapor at the man.

[royalpratness]

Arthur chuckles, waving his hand in front of his face. "Your magic is amazing."

[ayoungboy]

"Hardly." Merlin smiles, pleased. "Just a little parlor trick."

[royalpratness]

Arthur rolls onto his side, facing Merlin. "You need to stop doing that, Merlin. You have a unique talent. Stop talking it down like it's nothing."

[ayoungboy]

"I'm glad that you enjoy it," Merlin says honestly. "But it barely gives me a job, Arthur. It is nothing."

[royalpratness]

"You can make people levitate and create things out of thin air. That's the kind of thing people write novels about. It's a gift." Arthur insists.

[ayoungboy]

"And good on them. Lovely novels. But one day I'd like to buy a house of my own."