fandomhighdorms | Behind the Dorms, Tuesday Afternoon

They'd made the call on radio last week. Arthur had gained permission from the Lady of the Castle. Now, there was the mere hope that people were actually interested. Arthur stood by the dorm walls, leaning his back gently against it. He was trying to keep the pressure off of his bandage. He considered both of his compatriots with an idle glance. "So," he said. "With any luck, this won't be long."

"Eh, they can take all the time they want," Reno mused, idly patting down his pockets to see if he'd brought his smokes. He hadn't. "It ain't like I'm goin' anywhere anytime too soon, yo. It'll probably take a while to whip people here into shape, anyhow."

"You're telling me," Arthur said, dryly. It didn't keep him from tossing the occasional watchful, antsy glance 'round the corner to see if anyone was coming. He was a little out of his depth here.

"Won't be all that bad, yo." Reno gave up on hunting down the smokes altogether. "If they don't listen, just kick 'em harder'n they can kick you, and it'll all fall into place."

"Oh, I'm not worried about that," Arthur replied. He had enough confidence in that department. Except not really, but it wouldn't help any of them if he voiced that. "Merely about numbers." Odds were always on his mind around here.

"If only three people show up," Reno decided, "that's just when you kick 'em harder still. Make it count."

Well, Arthur supposed he could live with that.

[[ wee ocd ~~coming~~ up. feel free to just stop by and talk shop with the guys; commitment-free non-club ahoy! ]]

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Merlin just grinned and nodded there, not unkindly. "Are you here to be part of Arthur's militia then?"

"I'm a Jedi," Ben said. "We serve where we're needed. It's better when everyone is reading from the same strategy."

So yes.

Edited 2009-04-14 18:15 (UTC)

"I'm sure he'll be pleased you came." Or insult him with affection. It's what Arthur did.

Ben beamed despite himself. "You think?"

"Yes, I do. Just ignore him if he gets... Arthur about it."

~~And don't touch him~~

"Arthur about it?" Ben repeated.

"Trust me, when it happens, you'll know."

"How amazingly unhelpful," Ben retorted.

"He's a good man, just remember that should he feel the need to make you prove your worth."

"And you certainly haven't picked up that habit," Ben said flatly.

"Oh, I'm just the servant," Merlin replied. "I would never go above my station."

Except when he did. All the time.

Now it was Ben's turn to give him the look that said so very plainly that he wasn't buying that. "Uh huh."

Merlin was innocent here! May as well have a halo.

"Not about to underestimate, eh?"

Ben shook his head. "You don't seem like a servant to me," he said. He could sense power, even if it wasn't exactly like the Force.

"I'm Arthur's servant." If that made a difference.

~~Now no longer bearded.~~

"How would that make a difference?" Ben asked.

"I believe in my prince," Merlin said faintly. "And I trust him to not use my service poorly."

"Blind trust can get you into a world of hurt," Ben replied, and he suddenly looked much, much older than he was.

"I know." He learned that lesson already with the ~~slash~~ dragon. "But this is what I have chosen for myself."

And it wasn't that Ben didn't think Arthur was a great guy (because he did). He just didn't trust anyone any more.

"Don't be surprised when that explodes in your face, then."

"I'll deal with that when it happens." If it happened.

"Probably a contingency we should prepare for," Ben said. "When someone inside the walls decides to develop a complex, go evil, and try to kill everyone."

Merlin just stared at him for a moment. "And how would you know they've 'gone evil'?"

"Generally when they start spouting off about how no one understands the sacrifices they're making," Ben said sharply. "Just before they start torturing."

"I'll watch out for that then."

Re: Arrivals

momslilassassin - 2009-04-14 21:11 (UTC) - Expand